Integra LifeSciences Introduces InterFix Radiosurgery Kit for Use With TomoTherapy Radiation Treatment Systems

PLAINSBORO, N.J., Feb. 28, 2008 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) -- Integra LifeSciences Holdings
Corporation (Nasdaq:IART) announced today that its subsidiary, Integra Radionics, Inc.,
has launched the InterFix(TM) Radiosurgery Kit for use with TomoTherapy(R) radiation
treatment systems. The InterFix(TM) Radiosurgery Kit provides a way to adapt the
existing Integra Radionics(TM) stereotactic hardware to the TomoTherapy(R) Hi-Art(R)
system for stereotactic treatment of cranial tumors and vascular malformations. The
InterFix(TM) Radiosurgery Kit has received FDA clearance in the United States, as well as
CE Mark Certification in the European Union.

Integra Radionics has a long history in stereotactic surgery, with the CRW(TM) stereotactic
system for neurosurgery, and the XKnife(TM) system for stereotactic radiosurgery. Its
research and development team worked extensively with TomoTherapy to develop a means
to utilize the industry-leading Radionics(TM) stereotactic tools with the Hi-Art(TM) treatment system

source: Prime Newswire

Pin Point Radiotherapy Procedure Proved Success For Breast Cancer

A large scale trial conducted at the European Institute of Oncology (IEO) in Milan has proved a novel radiotherapy procedure to be a great success both in terms of medical results and cost effectiveness.

The study, published today in the peer-reviewed journal ecancermedicalscience, examined the use of Electron Intraoperative Therapy (ELIOT), which shortens the radiotherapy course from six weeks to one single session during surgery.

The conventional treatment for early breast cancer is breast conserving surgery (BCS) followed by a 5-7 week course of radiotherapy. However many women still undergo mastectomy because they do not have easy access to postoperative radiotherapy centres.

source: MediLexicon

Radiation therapy facility moratorium bill moves forward (MN)

MINNEAPOLIS, February 27, 2008 - A bill calling for a permanent moratorium on the construction of independent radiation therapy facilities was passed by the Senate Health, Housing and Family Security Policy Committee on Feb. 20.

The bill (S.F. 2667, H.F. 3265) would make permanent the moratorium, which currently expires in 2013, on construction of any new radiation therapy facilities in a 14-county area encompassing Hennepin, Ramsey, Dakota, Washington, Anoka, Carver, Scott, St. Louis, Sherburne, Benton, Stearns, Chisago, Isanti and Wright counties.

source: Minnesota Medical Association

Study Finds Variations in Doses of Radiation Therapy

Canadian Press: Amanda Gardner, Healthday Reporter

TUESDAY, Feb. 26 (HealthDay News) - Procedures to carry out a highly refined, complex radiation treatment for killing tumors and sparing healthy tissue may vary more widely from one medical center to the next than previously thought, a new study suggests.

"This study raises a very large and serious problem for the radiation oncology community because you cannot compare doses and hence clinical outcome between treatment centers," said study lead author Indra J. Das, a professor of radiation oncology at the University of Pennsylvania.

complete article at CBC News

New standards needed for radiation therapy

Modern radiation techniques result in substantial variation between the prescribed dose and the actual dose of radiation delivered to the tumor, according to a study published online February 26 in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute. As a result of this newly uncovered trend, the authors are calling for national guidelines for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT).

IMRT systems are designed to deliver the prescribed dose of radiation to a tumor while sparing surrounding tissues. IMRT does this by delivering many small beams of radiation that are individually controlled. Because of the complexity of the system, radiation oncologists and physicists rely on special software and equipment to deliver the planned dose over the treatment area.

source article

Harris Corporation Teams with Cancer Treatment Services International to Advance Oncology Treatment

ORLANDO, Fla., Feb. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- HIMSS, Booth #1841 -- Harris Corporation (NYSE: HRS), an international communications and information technology company, has joined forces with Cancer Treatment Services International (CTSI) to advance the quality and delivery of radiation oncology. Harris will provide advanced imaging and information systems that assure critical medical information is delivered with accuracy, speed, security and privacy.

"We believe Harris' expertise in image processing and enterprise intelligence will significantly advance radiation oncology," said Dr. Jeff Shogan, MD and chairman of CTSI. "Our collaboration with Harris will enhance our ability to deliver the highest quality cancer treatment services to more people, more effectively."

source: Rehab Management

NIU proton research center to get hearing

By JONATHAN BILYK

Northern Illinois University hopes to get a green light from state planners this week for its plan to bring a new option for cancer treatment to the region.


Representatives of NIU will go before the Illinois Health Facilities Planning Board on Tuesday for a hearing on the university’s request to build its proposed Northern Illinois Proton Treatment and Research Center.

The treatment and research center is proposed to be the first-of-its-kind in the upper Midwest, using a proton accelerator to treat a variety of cancers. The center would be built in the DuPage National Technology Park in West Chicago contiguous to the northern boundary of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, which in the late 1980s developed the first proton-therapy accelerator for use in cancer treatment, according to the proton treatment and research center’s Web site.

source: Kane County Chronicle

Radiation Therapist

Radiation therapy involves the use of ionizing radiation to treat cancer within the human body. It is the job of the radiation therapist to assist the radiation oncologist (a physician specializing in treating cancer with radiation) in the application of treatment by exposing specific areas of the patients body to prescribed dosages of radiation. The primary responsibilities of the radiation therapist are operation of the therapeutic equipment, proper patient positioning, monitoring of the patient during the procedure, and related clerical duties. Due to the nature of radiation therapy, the therapist is responsible to adhere to strict radiation safety guidelines.

complete article at http://www.imagingtechs.com/radiation-therapist/

Siemens Healthcare Announces Exclusive Partnership With Prowess Inc.

CONCORD, Calif., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens Healthcare (http://www.usa.siemens.com/healthcare) announces an exclusive partnership with Prowess Inc. to develop advanced radiation oncology treatment planning software for integration into Siemens' linear accelerators. The combination of Prowess' unique treatment planning system with Siemens' leading oncology solutions technology will help provide users with one of the most effective and reliable radiation therapy treatment solutions available in the market.

This agreement authorizes Siemens Healthcare to share the basic intellectual property of Prowess' patented Direct Aperture Optimization (DAO) planning software, allowing Siemens to incorporate Prowess' software into the treatment planning tools for its linear accelerators. This, in turn, will help users to dramatically reduce the number of segments, monitor units, and overall treatment times.

source: Siemens USA

Varian Medical Systems Announces Symposia on RapidArc Technology for Faster, More Precise Radiotherapy Treatments

PALO ALTO, Calif., Feb. 20 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) is announcing a series of educational symposia about its revolutionary RapidArc(TM) radiotherapy technology for faster and more precise cancer treatments. These symposia offer clinicians the opportunity to learn more about a technology that makes it possible to deliver image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) two to eight times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT or helical
tomotherapy.

"RapidArc represents a major medical advance that will revolutionize the way image-guided IMRT is planned and delivered for thousands and thousands of patients," says Dow Wilson, president of Varian's Oncology Systems business.

source: PR Newswire