Elekta announces next-generation radiation treatment technologies at ESTRO 27

820
With its new re-locatable frame, EXTEND offers maximum stability, enabling the most accurate, non-invasive localization available and now allows clinicians to explore the possibility to treat large or critically located targets in the head and neck that were previously untreatable with Gamma Knife® surgery.

Elekta, a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for cancer and brain disorders, are currently exhibiting several important innovations in radiation therapy and radiosurgery at the 27th annual meeting of ESTRO, The European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology.

The new systems and solutions showcased by Elekta includes;

    * Monaco, a next-generation inverse treatment planning system developed by CMS , part of the Elekta Group, which is now being expanded to include support for Elekta VMAT (Volumetric intensity Modulated Arc Therapy)
    * Four-dimensional Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) on the Elekta Synergy® linear accelerator system.
    * Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ and the EXTEND™ Program for fractionation support in Gamma Knife surgery.

Monaco VMAT Planning

Elekta has significantly advanced the field of radiation oncology by dramatically improving on existing IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) techniques with Elekta VMAT. So far, the clinical benefits of IMRT have been tempered by an appreciation of the time it takes to execute highly conformal, organ-sparing, dose-efficient and optimally therapeutic IMRT plans. Elekta VMAT (Volumetric intensity Modulated Arc Therapy) overcomes these limitations and has the unique ability to use single or multiple gantry arcs that sweep non-stop over the target isocenter, while simultaneously controlling gantry speed, multileaf collimator leaves, dose rate and collimator angle. Elekta VMAT promises highly conformal, yet dramatically shorter treatments – as short as 90 seconds.

The VMAT Planning support on Monaco will represent a fundamentally new approach to IMRT. The new system, featuring biological modeling, constrained optimization, and Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithms, including a unique and sophisticated set of tools will make the radiotherapy planning process easier, more straightforward and clinically reliable.

4D IGRT on Elekta Synergy®

At ESTRO 27, Elekta is also offering a preview of the recent innovations adding to the capabilities of the Elekta Synergy system for Image Guided Radiation Therapy.

In collaboration with clinical partners, Elekta has developed an innovative and patented 4DCT (computer tomography) technique to manage the motion for lung and other tumors inclined to move during treatment.

Used at the time of treatment, this 4D image guided (with time as the fourth dimension) process adds a ‘time-lapse’ picture to existing 3D volumetric imaging, producing 3D images that move and adjust over time. This can be used to register the movement of a tumor during, for example, the respiratory cycle and eliminate both set-up errors and baseline shifts in the tumor position and thereby reduce the volume of lung irradiated.

Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion and the EXTEND Program

EXTEND is a new treatment program that lets radiation oncologists and neurosurgeons apply the power of the world famous Leksell Gamma Knife to fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy.

With its new re-locatable frame, EXTEND offers maximum stability, enabling the most accurate, non-invasive localization available and now allows clinicians to explore the possibility to treat large or critically located targets in the head and neck that were previously untreatable with Gamma Knife® surgery.

EXTEND is a bridge between the pin-point accuracy of Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion and the treatment and fixation options commonly used in radiation oncology, providing an exciting cross-over solution for neuro-oncology.

Regulatory status of products: This press release presents systems and functionality showcased by Elekta at ESTRO 27. Certain products or functionality described may be works in progress or pending regulatory approval for certain markets.

About Elekta

Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated state of the art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.

Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible today.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group.

Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please click here.

For further information, please contact:

Media:

Florian Meinel, Marketing Director, Europe
Tel, Mobile: +49 1728971838
Email: florian.meinel@elekta.com

Investors:
Lena Schattauer, Investor Relations Manager
Tel, Direct +46 8 587 25 722
Tel, Mobile:+46 705 95 51 00
Email: lena.schattauer@elekta.com