Welcome to the September 2011 e-Lectron e-news. This month’s features are:
A radiotherapy video and news-clip showcase. The latest radiotherapy videos from the industry showcased in a special September e-news RadPro TV feature!
An update on the latest in radiotherapy accessories, immobilisation devices and consumables.
Interactive Index
- What's new on RadPro... Selected website news and updates
- Feature Articles... Radiotherapy video showcase and treatment accessory features
- What the papers said... Radiotherapy stories in the media
- Hot news from the radiotherapy industry
- Radiotherapy jobs...the latest international vacancies
- Feature listings... Revised upcoming features
Sun Nuclear Product Manager role
Sun Nuclear Corporation has an immediate opening for Product Manager for Patient Specific QA products. This is a new position responsible for overseeing Sun Nuclear’s growing and successful line of products designed for radiotherapy treatment plan verification. Products include MapCHECK 2, ArcCHECK, 3DVH, EPIDose, MotionSim, and more. This position requires a degree in Physics, or equivalent. This is a full-time position located in Melbourne, Florida with competitive salary and full benefits.
- 5+ years of experience in the radiation oncology industry
- Strong mathematics & physics skills
- Strong track record in product & project management
- Leadership and management of teams
- Hands-on knowledge or work experience in one or more of the following areas desired: Medical Linear Accelerators, Treatment Planning, DICOM, Patient QA, and R&V systems
- Previous experience with Treatment Planning Dose Model Calculation Algorithms or similar relevant subjects is a strong plus
If interested, please send your resume to careers@sunnuclear.com with a subject line of PPM209327
Radiotherapy: The Future Now
The London Clinic, 1 Park Square West, London NW1 4LJ, 17 November 2011
Study Day costs: £100+VAT until 7 October - £125+VAT after 7 October (includes CPD accreditation, optional tour of the Radiotherapy Department with short demonstrations of CyberKnifeR and RapidArcTM, with refreshments served throughout the day and a working lunch.)
To view the full programme visit www.eventsforce.net/thelondonclinic
To register please contact Expotel Events Team on 0161 603 4719 or via email event.reg@expotel.comTo read more and download an application form click here for the RadPro Education/CPD pages: http://www.radpro.org.uk/cpd.phpRadPro i-Phone APP
RadPro is launching an i-Phone APP so that you can receive all of the radiotherapy industries news daily on your i-Phone and so keep right up to date with the latest Radiotherapy news and developments as they happen. Blackberry and Android phone interfaces may be made available if there is a demand.
Contact admin@RadPro.eu for more information.
CPD for Radiographers
We have been asked by a clinical reader to showcase “CPD for Radiographers” in the e-Lectron e-news and so have added this to our December 2011 feature listing. We also have an Education/CPD page on the RadPro website that is a directory of upcoming CPD based events http://www.radpro.org.uk/cpd.php
If you would like to publish your CPD events or write editorial on your local clinical CPD role, experiences, ideas or plans in the December e-news contact admin@RadPro.eu.
EXPO virtual congress stats update
In July, when we hosted the first ever EXPO virtual congress we had over 2,000 unique visitors to the site, with 55% based in the UK, 15% in Europe, 15% in the USA and 15% others.
This figure compares very favourable with the actual delegates attending conventional congresses and exhibitions in the UK and Europe and shows that there is a big future for virtual exhibitions!
The “Hot News” ticker box on the home page for the latest radiotherapy news is now updated daily.
Publish your news to our members and radiotherapy professionals as it happens and hot off the press, only on RadPro. We will now accept all of your daily, weekly or monthly corporate news items and put these on the same day in our hot news ticker box on the home page and as RSS releases if requested.
A radiotherapy video and news-clip showcase. The latest radiotherapy videos from the industry showcased in a special September e-news RadPro TV feature! Just click on the links to see more.
Video 1
NHS in UK is accused of being slow in embracing Cyberknife technology…ITN news
To watch this video click here
Video 2
The CIRS Dynamic Thorax phantom is a precision instrument for investigating and minimising the impact of tumour motion inside the lung. It provides known, accurate and repeatable three-dimensional target motion inside a tissue equivalent phantom. The CIRS Dynamic Thorax phantom is distributed in the UK by Imaging Equipment Limited
To watch this video click here
Video 3
The Varian TrueBeam System
A radically different approach to Cancer treatment
To watch this video click here
Video 4 and more…
There are many more recently updated radiotherapy videos and news-clips on RadPro TV including some from Elekta, Accuray, Orfit and other leading radiotherapy companies.
Click here to see more videos: http://www.radpro.org.uk/vidview.php
Sophistication in radiation oncology technology extends even to the patient support, a component that Elekta has optimized in its Connexion™* modular couchtop. Connexion will provide good imaging performance, help to reduce the attenuation and offer high flexibility in choice of treatment technique. The couchtop was highlighted during the European Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ESTRO) annual meeting, May 8-12, 2011.
With a growing range of available treatment techniques, such as Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT), couchtops need the versatility to support a greater range of imaging and treatment deliveries than ever before. With its unique modular design, Connexion will provide a range of modules for specific imaging and treatment techniques, affording clinicians a single solution to tailor treatment to the needs of individual patients.
Clinical benefits of Connexion include kV and MV imaging performance for optimized image registration for misalignment detections and subsequent correction, and low attenuation and dose build up. The modular couchtop provides reproducible positioning, and simple, quick exchange of modules between patients to facilitate efficient clinical workflow.
Connexion components
Connexion consists of a base board that attaches to Elekta’s Precise Treatment System™ table and individual modules that can be easily attached to – and detached from – the base board. Each of the modules is designed for specific treatment scenarios:
Imaging module: Designed to support IGRT requirements, the imaging module is ideal for both kV and MV imaging modalities, featuring high radio-translucency to enable acquisition of high quality images. Due to its low, homogenous beam attenuation, it is the sophisticated solution for modern radiation therapy techniques such as IMRT and VMAT.
Central Opening Module: Designed for treatments in which the beam is directed through the table top (e.g., parallel opposed fields). The central opening provides an area where attenuation and dose build- up are minimized, providing better skin sparing.
Lateral Opening Module: Provides a couchtop designed for SBRT and treatment techniques that use oblique treatment fields. It reduces attenuation and skin doses from treatment fields that would normally pass through the couchtop. This module also provides increased clearance, maximizing available set-up techniques.
Head and Neck Module: With its shorter length and hook and latch interface, this module is designed for head and neck treatments, enabling attachment of common extensions for both Elekta and other third-party accessories.
*Connexion is a works in progress and not available for sale or distribution in all markets.
To view these products click here: Elekta 1
Last months Radiotherapy news in the media
Cancer Drugs Fund is money ill-spent, say radiographers
David Cameron's flagship Cancer Drugs Fund has been attacked by radiographers who say that if just "a fraction" of its £200 million budget was spent on improving radiotherapy, "the impact would be immense".
For some time radiographers have felt ignored while chemotherapy drugs which in many cases only prolong life by a matter of months have received enormous press and political attention.
Before last year's general election Mr Cameron came up with the idea of allocating £200 million a year to give patients access to drugs turned down for NHS funding by the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (Nice). While popular, the fund is controversial because some cancer specialists believe the money could be better spent elsewhere. Now Audrey Paterson, director of professional policy at the Society and College of Radiographers, has taken a side-swipe at it.
To read more click here: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8677250/Cancer-Drugs-Fund-is-money-ill-spent-say-radiographers.html
New Digital Linear Accelerator Control System Demonstrates Treatment Time Savings of Up to 30 Percent
Sixth generation digital control system designed to optimize therapy safety and efficiency
Elekta announced it has received approval to CE Mark its Integrity™ R1.1 treatment control system in the European Union. Integrity R1.1 combines a three-tier safety system with continuously variable dose rate (CVDR) and interdigitation capabilities for Elekta's MLCi2™ multi-leaf collimator (MLC). Integrity supports a complete range of delivery techniques -- such as Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) and stereotactic applications -- while ensuring maximum patient safety.
To read more click here: PDF 1
With Indian Center's New Elekta Equipment, Brain Tumors Have Nowhere to Hide
Advanced navigation and ultrasound in SonoWand Invite system enable ACTREC neurosurgeons to plot course to, and safely remove, lesions in the braiAt Mumbai, India's ACTREC (The Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research & Education in Cancer), neurosurgeons have employed Elekta SonoWand Invite™ in 15 patients with brain tumors since the center acquired the system in July. The integration of sophisticated intra-operative 3D ultrasound and navigation technology in SonoWand provides both the optimal path to the tumor and – with 3D ultrasound – ongoing images of the operative site, enabling the surgeon to safely remove all visible traces of the tumor.
To read more click here: PDF 2
Al Kindy Hospital in Morocco Carries Out First RapidArc® Radiotherapy Treatments in North Africa
Advanced Technology from Varian Medical Systems now Available for North African Cancer Patient
A 60-year-old prostate cancer patient has become the first person in North Africa to be treated using fast and efficient RapidArc® radiotherapy technology from Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR). The pioneering treatment took place at Al Kindy Hospital, a leading private cancer clinic in Casablanca. Over 20 further prostate and head/neck cancer treatments have subsequently taken place using the advanced technology.
To read more click here: PDF 3
Elekta Deepens Integration of MOSAIQ Oncology Information System with Varian TrueBeam Radiotherapy Delivery System
Users of Varian flagship system gain new MOSAIQ functionality
The seamless integration of Elekta's MOSAIQ® Oncology Information System (OIS)* and Varian's TrueBeam™ radiation therapy system is enabling the introduction of new OIS functionality, such as flattening filter free definition, delivery and alerts and enhanced communication capabilities. Numerous TrueBeam users have connected with MOSAIQ since the interface was introduced in 2010, and increasing numbers of users are expected to make MOSAIQ their OIS. The MOSAIQ interface to TrueBeam exemplifies the unparalleled integration between MOSAIQ and the radiation therapy systems of other providers, such as Siemens and Accuray/TomoTherapy, and particle therapy vendors, such as Hitachi and IBA.
To read more click here: PDF 4
Sun Nuclear Corporation has an immediate opening for Product Manager for Patient Specific QA products. This is a new position responsible for overseeing Sun Nuclear’s growing and successful line of products designed for radiotherapy treatment plan verification. Products include MapCHECK 2, ArcCHECK, 3DVH, EPIDose, MotionSim, and more. This position requires a degree in Physics, or equivalent. This is a full-time position located in Melbourne, Florida with competitive salary and full benefits.
- 5+ years of experience in the radiation oncology industry
- Strong mathematics & physics skills
- Strong track record in product & project management
- Leadership and management of teams
- Hands-on knowledge or work experience in one or more of the following areas desired: Medical Linear Accelerators, Treatment Planning, DICOM, Patient QA, and R&V systems
- Previous experience with Treatment Planning Dose Model Calculation Algorithms or similar relevant subjects is a strong plus
If interested, please send your resume to careers@sunnuclear.com with a subject line of PPM209327
For more jobs click here: http://www.radpro.org.uk/jobs/employment.php
For all the latest jobs click here: http://www.radpro.org.uk/jobs/employment.php
www.CompareRad.com the first Radiotherapy and Radiology product comparison website…Simple!
The December features now include CPD for radiographers, a member’s suggestion
October 2011: Two features.
1. Radiation protection, shielding and QA in radiotherapy
2. The latest Medical Physics tools update
November 2011: New Brachytherapy treatment systems and software solutions
December 2011: Radiotherapy recruitment, CPD for radiographers and radiography student training feature
January 2012: General news edition
February: Your feature subject of choice? Just let us know at admin@RadPro.eu now
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Duncan Hynd, September 2011