Varian Medical Systems Spotlights ProBeam® Compact Proton Therapy System at PTCOG 2014 Meeting in Shanghai

SHANGHAI, June 11, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE:VAR), the world leader in radiotherapy equipment and software, is introducing the ProBeam^® Compact proton therapy system at the annual meeting of the Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group (PTCOG 53) here this week.  The new compact, single-room system is designed to minimize the cost and space requirements for deploying a proton therapy system making its adoption into existing cancer centers more feasible and affordable.

"This compact system offers the full functionality of the most advanced proton systems in roughly half the space needed for typical multi-room installations," said Jan Timmer, senior manager of product marketing for Varian's Particle Therapy division.  "For its size, ProBeam Compact is the most cost-efficient proton system available, and it offers both high patient throughput as well as a full package of integrated image guidance and motion management tools."

A ProBeam Compact installation includes a space-efficient cyclotron, Varian's unique Dynamic Peak™ scanning technology for intensity-modulated proton therapy (IMPT), a fully rotational gantry, robotic patient positioning tools, and a comprehensive suite of motion management tools.  It incorporates an integrated 2- and 3-D imager for real-time image guidance, as well as the option of planning and managing treatments using Varian's world class Eclipse™ and ARIA^® software systems. 

The system is operated using the same interface Varian developed for its industry leading TrueBeam platform, offering users a streamlined treatment console that consolidates controls for imaging, treatment, and motion management in one graphical, user-friendly interface.  Operators who use Varian technology to plan and deliver conventional radiotherapy will have an easy time ramping up to use the ProBeam system because they can leverage their prior experience with other Varian systems. 

"It has been exciting to see how therapists working with the system at Scripps in San Diego are able to accommodate so many patients in a day," Timmer said. A complete ProBeam system was installed at Scripps and patient treatments commenced there earlier this year (read Scripps' February announcement).  "The ProBeam system eliminates a number of time consuming steps.

For example, the robotic treatment couch is operated remotely from the control room, and moves automatically into position based on 3-D images.  Many other systems require the therapist to enter the room to make manual adjustments," Timmer added.

"We are proud to offer all of the clinical capabilities and workflow efficiencies of the ProBeam system within a smaller footprint requiring less upfront investment," said Dr. Moataz Karmalawy, general manager of Varian's Particle Therapy division. 

On June 13^th, in conjunction with the 53rd annual PTCOG conference, Varian is co-sponsoring a symposium entitled "Potentials and Challenges of IMPT Using Proton or Heavy Ion," chaired by Joe Y. Chang, MD, PhD, professor and clinical section chief for thoracic radiation oncology at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.  Distinguished speakers from proton therapy facilities in Europe, the U.S., and Japan will present on a range of topics including clinical commissioning, indications/advantages, motion management, planning optimization, quality assurance and image-guided delivery. 

In addition to the most recent installation at the Scripps Proton Therapy Center in San Diego, California, Varian proton therapy technology is also in place at the Rinecker Proton Therapy Center in Munich, Germany and the Paul Scherrer Institute in Switzerland.  Varian has contracts to install ProBeam systems at seven additional centers at the University of Maryland in Baltimore; Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia; Cincinnati Children's Hospital in Ohio; University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas; KFMC-King Fahd Medical City in Saudi Arabia; PTC St. Petersburg in Russia; and National Taiwan University in Taipei.

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 X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 6,500 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and 70 sales and support offices around the world.  For more information, visit http://www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements
Except for historical information, this news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Statements concerning industry outlook, including growth drivers; the company's future orders, revenues or other financial performance; the ability of the company's technology and products to treat cancer; and any statements using the terms "will," "plan," "expect," "estimated," or similar statements are forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties that could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those anticipated. Such risks and uncertainties include the effect of global economic conditions; demand for the company's products; the company's ability to develop, commercialize, and deploy new products; the company's ability to meet legal and regulatory requirements; changes in the legal or regulatory environment; and the other risks listed from time to time in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which by this reference are incorporated herein. The company assumes no obligation to update or revise the forward-looking statements in this release because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Meryl Ginsberg, 650-424-6444
[email protected]

SOURCE Varian Medical Systems