Varian Unveils VitalBeam™ for Affordable Advanced Radiotherapy

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 27, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE:VAR) last week unveiled a radiotherapy platform designed to offer clinics an affordable option for implementing advanced image-guided radiotherapy.  Varian's VitalBeam™ system is a new cost-effective technology package for offering high-quality, high-throughput radiation therapy, and for expanding clinical capabilities over time.^*

"VitalBeam leverages the best of our technology, incorporating many of the innovations we developed for our popular TrueBeam® radiosurgery system to enhance precision, safety, and speed of treatment," said Kolleen Kennedy, president of Varian's Oncology Systems business.  "It is a flexible and upgradeable system that affordably meets the clinical needs of our customers today and as they grow in the future."   

VitalBeam will be available in a basic package with an 80-leaf collimator for intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT), low-dose megavoltage (MV) imaging using the accelerator beam for image guidance, and respiratory gating for motion management.  Clinics can add RapidArc® radiotherapy for faster IMRT, higher dose delivery rates, an on-board kV X-ray system capable of cone-beam CT imaging, and a higher-resolution 120-leaf collimator.   All VitalBeam configurations offer up to three photon and six electron energy levels for flexibility in treatment.

"Customers can configure the system the way that they want it," said Tim Clark, head of European marketing for Varian's Oncology Systems business. "They can choose to start with one configuration and add capabilities over time, at a pace that suits them.  It is distinct from our versatile TrueBeam radiotherapy and radiosurgery platform in that VitalBeam is optimized for advanced radiotherapy while TrueBeam systems were designed to handle both."

A Peek Inside
VitalBeam incorporates Varian's next-generation system architecture, originally developed for the TrueBeam platform, which dynamically synchronizes imaging, patient positioning, motion management, beam shaping and dose delivery, performing accuracy checks every ten milliseconds. 

Other VitalBeam features include:

• A streamlined treatment console with a modern, easy-to-use, graphical interface that consolidates controls for imaging, treatment, and motion management in one place.
• A "follow the light" guidance system, with prompts and messages that enhances safety by guiding therapists through the steps of even the most complex treatments.
• "Intelligent" automation that saves time by reducing the number of steps needed for imaging, positioning and treating patients.  

Varian introduced the new VitalBeam platform last Saturday, as part of at a special unveiling at the annual ESTRO (European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology) meeting taking place in Barcelona through April 28.  It will be rolled out in markets across the world as regulatory clearances are obtained.  

About Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, focuses energy on saving lives by equipping the world with advanced technology for fighting cancer and for X-ray imaging.  The company is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is also a premier supplier of X-ray imaging components, including tubes, digital detectors, and image processing software and workstations for use in medical, scientific, and industrial settings, as well as for security and non-destructive testing.  Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 6,800 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. 

Forward Looking Statements
Statements in this press release regarding future business, events, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, and other similar matters, including, but not limited to, statements using the terms "designed to" and "will be" constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, the risks described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed from time to time by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

^* CE mark and FDA 510(k) clearance pending.  VitalBeam is currently not available for sale in any market.

Press Contact

Meryl Ginsberg
Varian Medical Systems
+1 (650) 424-6444
[email protected]

SOURCE Varian Medical Systems

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