Non-Invasive Radiosurgery with Novalis Tx(TM) Platform Rolling Out...(s such as Duke University UCLABrigham an...)

About the Technology

The Novalis Tx platform incorporates two complementary imaging systems that work together to enhance treatment precision by enabling doctors to target areas being treated. The ETX(TM)(ExacTrac(R)) room-based X-ray imaging system provides real-time imaging and fine-tuning of a robotic couch that moves in six dimensions to ensure that the targeted lesion is aligned with the treatment beam during treatment. The OBI(R) (On-Board Imager) cone-beam CT imaging system quickly generates a high-quality 3-D image of the targeted lesion and surrounding tissues, so clinicians can see the precise location and shape of the tumor, fine-tune the patient's position, and make sure that the internal anatomy has not shifted or changed prior to treatment.

"The platform's complementary imaging tools make it possible to track motion during treatment, so targeting can be adjusted if the patient shifts by even a few millimeters," says Dow Wilson, president of Varian's Oncology Systems business. "The Novalis Tx platform also can synchronize treatment with the patient's normal breathing patterns to compensate for motion when treating in or near the lungs."

In addition to its multiple imaging capabilities, the Novalis Tx platform incorporates many features designed to increase its effectiveness, efficiency, or versatility, including:

-- Real-time Snap Verification of patient positioning to verify during

treatment that the lesion is in the right position

-- Correlation between internal and external fiducial markers, rather than

relying on less-accurate optical tracking of external markers only

-- Both non-coplanar and coplanar imaging

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