Elekta Announces Clinical Start-up of Elekta Synergy® S at UPMC
PITTSBURGH and ATLANTA, Jan. 10 - Treatments have commenced on the new Elekta Synergy® S at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). UPMC is a world-leading provider of intra- and extracranial stereotactic radiosurgery.
The clinical start of treatments began October 30, 2007 with a colon cancer treatment followed by a lung patient. Since then, the vast majority of patients treated with Elekta Synergy S are spine stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) patients, most of which are treated in a single session.
Elekta Synergy S is a state-of-the-art digital linear accelerator with ultra-precise patient alignment that uses Elekta's advanced X-ray Volume Imaging (XVI) to acquire ultra low dose 3D cone beam CT volumetric images with the patient in the treatment position for accurate patient alignment. The system then delivers higher, more conformal doses of radiation to the target due to the unique MLC design of Elekta Synergy S, called Beam Modulator(TM). The Beam Modulator was designed for single session SRS, which results in fewer clinic visits for the patient, as well as faster, more efficient treatment times.
"Elekta Synergy S is a very good, very reliable machine," says M. Saiful Huq, Ph.D., FAAPM, FinstP, professor and director of Medical Physics, Department of Radiation Oncology at UPMC Cancer Centers. "With the Elekta Volume View(TM) cone beam CT, we can localize treatment directly to the tumor and spare surrounding healthy tissue. And the robotic HexaPOD(TM) tabletop allows six degrees of correction in rotational or translational errors for extreme accuracy."
With these capabilities, Elekta Synergy S provides a powerful combination of software-driven, image-guided accuracy and highly conformal beam shaping - two critical requirements for maximizing precision and improving patient outcomes in stereotactic treatment.
UPMC partners with Elekta to develop new technologies
UPMC and Elekta have worked together for many years. "We have a strong Elekta presence at UPMC Cancer Centers," says Dr. Huq. "Historically, a great deal of Leksell Gamma Knife® development has taken place here, as well as collaboration on other Elekta technology. So Elekta Synergy S was a natural progression for us."
With the addition of Elekta Synergy S to its Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion(TM) and Leksell Gamma Knife® 4C capabilities, the Center for Image Guided Neurosurgery at UPMC has been designated an Elekta Stereotactic Center of Excellence. "We treat one of the largest patient volumes in the world," says Dr. Huq, "and Elekta Synergy S will be a great benefit to our patients."
About Elekta
Elekta is an international medical technology group, providing oncologists, radiation therapists, neurosurgeons and many other medical specialists with state of the art tools to fight serious disease.
Elekta provides advanced clinical solutions, comprehensive management and information systems as well as services for improved cancer care and management of brain disorders.
Elekta's systems and solutions are used in over 4,500 hospitals around the world. Clinical and information management solutions include, among others, Leksell Gamma Knife® for non-invasive treatment of brain disorders, Elekta Axesse(TM) and Elekta Synergy® for stereotactic and image guided radiation therapy and radiosurgery as well as the MOSAIQ(TM) suite of software for image-enabled EMR and efficient management of clinical and patient data.
With over 2,000 employees globally, the corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. More information about Elekta can be found at www.elekta.com.
About UPMC Cancer Centers
UPMC Cancer Centers offers cancer patients exceptional care and innovative treatments close to home. Working in tandem with the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI), western Pennsylvania's only National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, UPMC Cancer Centers provides the latest advances in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment at more than 40 community-based locations throughout the region. UPCI comprises the academic and research activities for cancer at the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
UPMC and Elekta have partnered in the assessment and use of a variety of technologies over the last 25 years, including stereotactic guiding technologies, robotic surgical microscopes, magnetoencephalography, linear accelerator radiation systems and Gamma Knife® radiosurgery. Certain doctors at UPMC serve on an advisory panel and act as paid consultants to Elekta.
Source: Elekta, Inc.
CONTACT: Media inquiries, Michelle Lee, PR and Advertising Manager,
+1-770-670-2447,michelle.lee@elekta.com;
or Product inquiries, Peter J. Gaccione, Vice President, Global Marketing, +1-770-670-2380, peter.gaccione@elekta.com
Web site: www.elekta.com/
