Varian Medical Systems unveils first low-energy radiotherapy system with image-guidance and RapidArc treatment capabilities

Aug 31 2009

Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) is introducing the world's first low-energy radiotherapy system with image-guidance and RapidArc treatment capabilities for international cancer clinics. Varian's UNIQUE(TM) radiotherapy system is expected to make advanced care more affordable and more widely available to cancer patients around the world.

"This package is truly a unique offering for international markets," says Dow Wilson, president of Varian's Oncology Systems business. "We have added high-tech image-guidance and arc therapy tools to a low energy platform together with our treatment planning and information management software so that technology for fast, state-of-the-art cancer treatments can be made available to treatment centers at a cost under $2 million. It's in keeping with our mission to save more lives by making proven advanced radiotherapy technology available to people who currently do not have access to it."

The UNIQUE Performance Edition incorporates all the tools needed to easily establish or enhance a clinically effective radiotherapy treatment operation. The UNIQUE* platform's low energy medical linear accelerator incorporates Varian's proven technologies for reliable and consistent dose control, delivery, and beam shaping, into an elegant machine with patient friendly design that is small enough to fit into almost all existing treatment bunkers. The system is ideally equipped for treating cancers of the head and neck, breast, cervix and prostate, which make up the majority of cases in most areas of the world. It will be exhibited for the first time at the 10th Biennial ESTRO Conference on Physics and Radiation Technology taking place here this week.

"It's a comprehensive, cost-effective offering that will provide cancer patients with standard treatments as well as advanced techniques, including intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT), and RapidArc(R) treatments," said Rolf Staehelin, Varian's European marketing director. "By making UNIQUE available with advanced capabilities developed for our high-energy platforms, we hope to help more clinicians around the world to offer higher standards of care for all of their patients."

Varian will also offer a UNIQUE Power Edition without RapidArc technology or image-guidance software, for centers that prefer to begin with a more basic yet upgradeable platform.

Either package is ideal for treatment centers looking to transition from older cobalt units to modern radiotherapy technology. The small footprint of the UNIQUE accelerator allows it to fit into most small, existing treatment vaults. UNIQUE is not for sale in the U.S., Canada, or Japan.

In addition to the UNIQUE offerings, the Varian booth at ESTRO (Booth No. 240) is showcasing a wide spectrum of new and updated products that improve and simplify the processes of radiotherapy and radiosurgery, including a new version of the Eclipse(TM) radiotherapy treatment planning system, with new features that enhance the product's speed, precision, and clinical flexibility. Varian is also highlighting the widespread clinical implementation of its RapidArc volumetric modulated arc therapy technology, which represents the most successful product introduction in the company's history with more than 180 centers globally treating clinically to date. Prior to the show, Varian held a Users Meeting attended by more than 220 people which focused on the multiple clinical indications for which RapidArc is being routinely utilized at cancer centers around the world.