Advances In Radiation Oncology Help Improve Cancer Therapy Planning And Delivery
Andover, MA - Philips Medical Systems, a division of Royal Philips Electronics unveiled advances in its portfolio of leading oncology solutions that advance Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and help physicians more accurately target tumors. Philips is introducing the AcQSim3, now the only commercial full CT Simulation system on the market with absolute marking. Other highlights on display include a new version of Pinnacle3, the industry leading oncology platform with integrated simulation, image fusion, 3D planning and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) software modules. These technologies are on display at the 47th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) in Denver.
At ASTRO, Philips is focusing on advances to help improve cancer treatment planning and delivery accuracy in IGRT. Image guidance helps clinicians to manage their patients throughout the treatment process by providing patient-specific data upon which to base therapy decisions. Armed with these tools, clinicians are able to more accurately deliver therapy and avoid harming healthy surrounding tissue. The inclusion of multi-modality anatomic, temporal and functional image data (CT, MR, PET and/or SPECT) into the therapy process provides the clinician with the most comprehensive information needed to define the target, optimize the treatment process and deliver the most benefit to the patient.
The integration of Philips imaging and treatment planning technologies helps hospitals, centers and clinics to cost-effectively implement IGRT using products already on the market. Solutions from Philips CT, MR, Ultrasound, Cardiovascular, PET/CT and Nuclear Medicine business lines combine to provide various forms of image guidance that help users more accurately define and monitor their targets (i.e., a tumor). Philips IGRT technologies improve workflow, and ultimately, help the clinic improve patient outcomes.
"Philips is committed to providing customers with leading-edge oncology solutions, including IGRT," said Keith Tipton, general manager, oncology systems for Philips Medical Systems. "To us, IGRT is not just about images taken in the treatment room, but more importantly it means increased tumor definition and accuracy in simulation and planning on the front end of the process, and therapy monitoring throughout the course of care."
Philips AcQSim3 CT simulation software includes Syntegra image fusion, absolute marking, and incorporates the latest advances in oncology imaging (CT, MR, PET and SPECT) to help provide a more accurate definition of a patient's tumor. Absolute marking allows clinicians to more precisely mark the exact coordinates of a tumor, which increases workflow and saves time.
New Products on display at ASTRO
Philips is also introducing the Pinnacle3 Workstation Version 8.0, which now includes the first toolset for Model Based Segmentation(a) (MBS) software. Philips MBS is designed to provide clinicians with anatomical templates that can be dragged and dropped onto the patient's image data, and then automatically adapt their shapes to fit the patient's organs. This helps reduce the time spent by oncologists and dosimetrists manually drawing contours around organs and other anatomical structures, delivering more accurate data representations. Syntegra automated image registration has also been embedded directly into the Pinnacle3 and AcQSim3 software applications with the release of software version 8.0.
"Using Pinnacle3 with AcQSim3 is giving our productivity a boost," said Kathy Mah, senior planning physicist, Department of Medical Physics, Sunnybrook & Women's, Toronto. "Now, with one consolidated system for all our simulation, planning and IMRT needs, our efficiency planning has improved. With the enhanced functionality and accuracy we are experiencing with Pinnacle3 and AcQSim3, our patients are, in turn, receiving an even more advanced level of care."
SOURCE: Royal Philips Electronics