With the opportunities overseas and millions of people expected to enter the U.S. health care system, innovations in imaging capabilities, respiratory motion management tools and specialized radiotherapy devices are enhancing the efficacy of radiotherapy.

Image guidance
Image guidance capability on radiotherapy devices is one of the most prominent trends in the industry. The potential to image the site immediately prior to treatment using linear accelerators has come a long way from electronic portal imaging devices for simple plane radiographic images to cone beam CT and supplementary imaging devices, appendages mounted on the device’s gantry.

John Marquez, president of Therapy Remarketing Group, a reseller of previously owned radiation therapy equipment, says the demand for such systems is high.

“Systems with image guidance capabilities are our biggest request we get right now,” he says. “At minimum, what we’re seeing is that people want systems that are upgradeable. If they currently don’t have image guidance on them, they want something that’s going to be compatible with the minimum requirements to upgrade the unit.”

DOTmed News learned that two companies working in a strategic alliance, Acceletronics and an oncology and diagnostic imaging equipment sales firm, Radiology Oncology Systems, are introducing a new imaging device at this year’s American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology annual meeting.

“We are going to be announcing the release of the first ever FDA approved KV imaging device that can be integrated with any brand of a linear accelerator,” says John Vano, president of ROS. “What this is going to do is allow those hospitals to upgrade older linear accelerator systems to KV imaging technology without the need to replace or upgrade them with OEM options.”

The RAD II KV Imager, manufactured by Holland-based TheraView, enables clinicians to identify interfractional organ movement for the targeting and treatment of tumors. It can be configured for Varian, Siemens or Elekta linacs with or without beam stoppers.

Acceletronics’ Schwarz says the new imaging device will help clinicians meet the goals of “safety, accuracy and reproducibility” in radiotherapy.

Respiratory motion management
Technological advancements in respiratory motion management are enabling clinicians to focus on sites that have previously been hard to treat with radiotherapy. Tumors in areas such as the liver and lungs tend to shift because of breathing, making it difficult to precisely locate their position.

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