Varian Medical Systems Redesigns its ProBeam™ Proton Therapy User Interface

SEOUL, Korea, May 9, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) will showcase a new user interface for the company's ProBeam™ proton therapy system at the upcoming annual meeting of the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group (PTCOG 51) here, May 14-19.  The new interface streamlines the steps for imaging, positioning and treating patients with image-guided intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT).

The new user interface for Varian's ProBeam system is based on technology that was developed for the TrueBeam™ system for radiotherapy and radiosurgery.  This includes a user-friendly treatment console that consolidates all controls for imaging, treatment, and motion management in one graphical, easy-to-use interface.

"We have capitalized on Varian's long experience designing interfaces for efficient clinical use," said Moataz Karmalawy, head of Varian's particle therapy group.  "Clinicians who are already conversant with the TrueBeam system should have an easy time learning to operate a ProBeam system, and moving back and forth between the two."

IMPT involves shaping the dose so that it matches the shape of the targeted tumor in three dimensions.  Varian's ProBeam system utilizes Dynamic Peak™ scanning, which optimizes the dose applied to every point within the area being treated.  This makes it especially useful for targeting tumors with complex shapes, or tumors that wrap around critical structures like the spinal cord.

Another feature of the system, Dynamic Peak imaging, enables the use of imaging to further enhance the accuracy of tumor targeting.

"Varian's ProBeam system has been developed as a complete solution that is tightly integrated with the ARIA® oncology information system and Eclipse™ treatment planning," said Karmalawy.  "This enables an efficient and integrated workflow for planning and delivering high-quality image-guided IMPT treatments."

Varian has equipped the Rinecker Proton Therapy Centre (RPTC) in Munich, site of the world's first clinical IMPT treatments. Construction work continues at the Scripps Proton Therapy Center in San Diego, which is being equipped with Varian hardware and software.  The Scripps Center expects to begin treating patients in Spring 2013.   Varian has booked proton therapy technology orders for centers in Saudi Arabia and Russia, and has been named the preferred supplier for several other proton therapy ventures globally. The company's Eclipse treatment planning system is being used to plan proton therapy treatments at several currently operating centers, and will be installed in over half of the new centers that are currently being built around the world.

Note: high resolution images of Varian's proton therapy technology are available in the company's online newsroom at this URL: http://varian.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=31899&mode=gallery&cat=2479.

About Varian Medical Systems

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies high-energy X-ray devices for cargo screening and non-destructive testing applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 6,000 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Meryl Ginsberg, 650.424.6444
[email protected] 

SOURCE Varian Medical Systems