Varian Medical Systems to Introduce RapidArc(TM) Radiotherapy Technology for Volumetric Arc Therapy at ...(pidArc plans can conform the treatment b...),Health

RapidArc will also make it much simpler to plan and deliver IMRT by eliminating numerous steps required for conventional treatments that use multiple beam angles. By reducing the time it takes to deliver IMRT and other highly-precise forms of radiation therapy, RapidArc has the potential to improve the quality of care and of patient comfort, while making radiation oncology a more affordable treatment. "This can reduce the treatment waiting lists in parts of the world where capacity is a limiting factor," Wilson said.

"Clinicians everywhere are rapidly adopting image-guided radiotherapy," observed Karl Otto, PhD, medical physicist at the BC Cancer Agency, whose research has contributed to the development of Varian's RapidArc product. "With RapidArc, it is likely that we will see image-guided radiotherapy sessions complete much faster than they are now, including imaging and treatment."

"Varian's goal is to reduce the time it takes for imaging and treatment to under five minutes, through technology advancements," said Wilson. "With RapidArc, we're taking a big step in this direction."

RapidArc Technology

RapidArc technology utilizes a sophisticated algorithm that makes it possible to program a Varian linear accelerator to deliver a complete intensity-modulated radiation treatment in a single revolution. By varying three parameters simultaneously-the speed of rotation, the beam shaping aperture, and the dose delivery rate-doctors can create finely-shaped IMRT dose distributions that more closely match the size and shape of the tumor while sparing healthy tissues. "We have been working to develop and perfect RapidArc capability for more than five years and it is exciting to see this important technology coming to fruition," s
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