Welcome to the October 2011 e-Lectron e-news. This month we have a Physics special!
The features are: Radiation protection, shielding and QA with a Medical Physics tools update. Also we bring you news from the ASTRO meeting in Miami.
New monthly video advertisement feature
Has your company got the “X Factor”!
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Interactive Index
- What's new on RadPro... Website news and updates
- Feature Article... Radiation protection, shielding and QA with a Medical Physics tools update
- Hot news from the industry... latest corporate news
- Radiotherapy jobs... the latest international vacancies
- Feature listings... Revised upcoming features
Medipass Healthcare
MES Sales Manager / Director
£ market rate + significant bonus opportunity
Medipass is a specialist provider of advanced medical equipment solutions, working with and supporting hospitals to provide great patient care including all imaging modalities, radiotherapy and other advanced hospital equipment. Providing equipment efficiencies and innovation, from a single major machine, through to a department or whole hospital solution. Medipass provides service internationally. This role will focus on the UK market and may require occasional international travel.
Medipass is now seeking a MES Sales Manager / Director to grow the UK business, to be part of a multi disciplinary team to bid for, negotiate and close long term MES contracts within the NHS and private sector. This is a key appointment for Medipass and a fantastic opportunity for an experienced MES sales manager to join a rapidly expanding organisation at an exciting time in its development. The candidate will have extensive and proven experience of the UK MES market particularly in the NHS. Attributes of the winning candidate will include a 'can-do' attitude, strong interpersonal skills, commercial acumen and a values oriented approach to business.
Please contact Sophie Seymour at Medipass Healthcare Ltd
Clinical CPD Blog pages We have been asked by our readers to set up a Blog site for CPD. If you would like to publish your upcoming CPD events, write a daily, weekly or monthly diary about your passion for CPD and also create a forum for exchanging ideas and questions about CPD please contact admin@RadPro.eu for more information
RadPro 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.
YouRad Gray matters, radiotherapy opinion poll and survey site
We are looking for new survey subjects to be carried out on our opinion poll site YouRad such as “Are green issues important in Radiotherapy” If you have any suggestions please contact us at admin@RadPro.eu
News from the ASTRO meeting in Miami
Varian Medical Systems to Exhibit Product Enhancements Designed to Make Treatment with Varian Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery Systems Faster, Easier, More Accurate, and Cost Effective
Company will showcase new capabilities at the annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO), October 2-4 in Miami Beach, Florida
ASTRO Booth #1825 — Continual visual verification that a tumor is being accurately targeted during a radiotherapy treatment is now possible with recent enhancements to the TrueBeam™ system. This capability, called intrafraction motion review (IMR), is among the innovations that Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) will showcase at this year's annual meeting of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) in Miami Beach next week.
To read more click here: http://varian.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=895
Elekta to Demonstrate How its Solutions Foster Confidence in Cancer Management at ASTRO Meeting in Miami
World's largest radiation oncology meeting to draw 11,000 attendees, reinforcing therapeutic radiation's role as critical cancer treatment
ASTRO Booth # 825 – At the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) 53rd Annual Meeting, October 2-6 in Miami Beach, Fla., Elekta will highlight its broad spectrum of solutions designed to simplify the complex processes involved in radiation therapy, inspiring confidence in healthcare professionals who use Elekta technology.
"Radiotherapy techniques are becoming increasingly sophisticated, requiring more time and skill to ensure safe, clinically effective delivery," says Elekta President and CEO, Tomas Puusepp. "By simplifying the variables in planning, verification, setup and treatment delivery, Elekta strives to give clinicians greater confidence in the treatment of their patients."
To read more click here: PDF 1
RayPilot® - Brings electromagnetic tumor tracking to any linac.
Welcome to visit Micropos Booth 2548 at the ASTRO Annual Meeting for a demo and discussions how you could use the RayPilot® system.
RayPilot® is an add-on system to any existing linac that continuously records the tumor motion from set-up throughout the whole treatment without ionizing radiation. All motion data could be exported and analyzed at any later moment. RayPilot® is at the moment installed at University Hospitals in Sweden, Denmark and Germany for use on prostate cancer patients. We are also working on future versions of the RayPilot® system for other tumor sites and with even more functions integrated. Recently an article where published from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark where they are doing dynamic MLC tracking research with the RayPilot® system. Please get your own copy of the article in our booth.
RadPro EXPO 2012
The second international, virtual radiotherapy congress and exhibition will take place on the 3rd to 6th July 2012. With over 2,000 unique visitors to the site in July last year for EXPO 2011 this second innovative, cost effective and time saving event is sure to grow in popularity.
To register, book your virtual exhibition booth or to find out how to participate, visit the new 2012 micro site now!
Calder Industrial Materials Cyberknife and Tomotherapy bunker shielding project case studies
As a world leader in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, London’s Royal Marsden Hospital invests heavily in the latest technologies to help its patients fight the disease. When in 2010 the hospital decided to repalce its old Brachytherapy suite with a state of the art Cyberknife, Calder Industrial Materials were asked to design, manufacture and install high performance lead shielding into the existing bunker.
To read more click here: PDF 2
In early 2010 the Mount Vernon Cancer centre began work on a project to install the first Cyberknife in an NHS Hospital. This groundbreaking technology from American company Accuray Inc. uses real time tracking to deliver precisely targeted high dose radiation to tumours. The unique nature of this project demanded the highest levels of radiation shielding and Calder Industrial Materials the European leaders in lead radiation shielding provided a comprehensive, turnkey solution.
To read more click here: PDF 3
While the history of Guy’s and St Thomas’ streches back almost a millennium, the hospitals have a well deserved reputation for looking to the future. Their decision to commission the building of a Tomotherapy treatment centre underlines as desire to offer the latest medical advances to its patients. Calder Industrial Materials, the European leaders in radiation shielding, provided a bespoke solution satisfying the exacting requirements of this unique project
To read more click here: PDF 4
To go to the new Calder website or to read more about the latest Calder project at the PET/CT unit at the RMH Chelsea click here:
http://www.calderlead.co.uk/news/calder-wins-second-installation-and-design-contract-at-the-royal-marsden-hospital/
Please contact Andy Carr (a.carr@caldergroup.co.uk) for more information
on Calder lead shielding solutions
Imaging Equipment provide products for all your physics needs including Patient QA, Dosimetry and Routine QA products from Sun Nuclear.
Patient QA: Sophisticated treatment options such as Arc, Helical, IGRT, IMRT and SRS demand equally sophisticated patient specific QA. Modern patient plans are often collections of small beamlets with very steep dose gradients. Since these dose gradients are to tightly conform to patient anatomy and PTV, accurate vertification of the dose is critical using the right technology is critical.
3DVH – Next generation patient dose vertification and analysis system.
3DVH can use existing IMRT or rotational delivery measurements to perform 3D patient dose and DVH QA, effectively eliminating dose-to-phantom guesswork.
To watch a video click here: vidview.php?as=sn3dvh
ARCCHECK – Worlds first true 4D detector array, cylindrical detector array and electronic array designed specifically for rotational dosimetry
To watch a video click here: vidview.php?as=arccheck
Dosimetry: Tools used for dosimetry and commissioning must be carefully selected. Equal care must be taken to use the tools properly, otherwise incorrect information could be used with serious consequences that may or may not be detected in quality assurance tests.
3D SCANNER– more than just a different shape, the 3D Scanner saves time and improves beam scanning data quality.
To view more click here: http://www.sunnuclear.com/medPhys/dosimetry/3dscanner/3dscanner.asp
Routine: Routine daily, monthly and annual tests are prescribed as part of a robust QA and Dosimetry programme. For the person taking the routine measurement, tools must be easy to use and reliable. The physics goal of routine QA is to maximise the data integrity and analysis options.
DOSELAB – is fast, simple and powerful software for IMRT/VMAT/SBRT and AAPM TG-40/TG-142 image analysis and QA routines. Its built in PDF reporting, PQI Analytics module, and user-friendly design make Doselab the premier image analysis and QA system for modern radiation oncology clinics.
To view more click here http://www.sunnuclear.com/medPhys/routineqa/doselab/doselab.asp
To contact IEL about these products please email Jessica@imagingequipment.co.uk
Duncan Hynd Associates Limited shielding doors and neutron shielding projects
Recently DHA has installed heavy shielding doors at the new Mount Vernon Hospital Cyberknife facility, the St Thomas’ Hospital Tomotherapy unit and the Royal Marsden Hospital Cyberknife bunker. Offering both sliding and swing variations and complete reliability, contact Duncan@dha.co.uk for installation drawings and pricing for your new or existing bunker build.
Working in association with Radiation Technology Limited (RTL), DHA has recently completed the neutron shielding project for the new Varian Truebeam Linac bunker build at the Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, Scotland. The centre purchased and installed Boratex neutron capture paper according to bespoke designs supplied by RTL. Contact Duncan@dha.co.uk for more information on our cost effective neutron shielding solutions for high energy bunkers.
To read more visit: www.dha.co.uk
Nottingham University Hospital treats first patient with new VMAT Radiation technique
VMAT reduces treatment time and may significantly reduce the risk of serious side effects
Nucletron a leading provider of state-of-the-art radiotherapy solutions for cancer treatment and Nottingham University Hospital collaborated to prepare for the clinical introduction of Nucletron’s Oncentra VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Art Therapy).
Nottingham University Hospital has treated its first prostate patient using a new treatment procedure in clinical routine using Nucletron’s Oncentra VMAT (Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy). Together with Nucletron’s development resources, the physicians and medical physicists at Nottingham performed all the necessary preparations so that the new method could be introduced into clinical routine in September 2011. VMAT reduces treatment time and IMRT can significantly reduce the risk of serious side effects and potentially improve tumor control for patients.
To read more click here: PDF 5
Multi-Session Gamma Knife Radiosurgery Gaining Traction in North America to Treat Patients With Cancers in Brain and Skull Base
In-booth demonstrations at Congress of Neurological Surgeons to highlight how Elekta's Extend system enables multi-fraction therapy for hard-to-treat targets
By the end of 2011, as many as nine U.S. medical centers will be offering multi-session Gamma Knife® surgery with Extend™ to treat patients with larger tumors or lesions close to critical structures located in the brain and skull base. Extend technology allows clinicians to non-invasively immobilize the patient's head, making repeatable or multi-fraction Gamma Knife surgery feasible for these cases.
To read more click here: PDF 6
The Christie becomes the first hospital in the UK to provide PDR Brachy Gynae for it’s patients with Gynacological cancers
The Christie Hospital recently switched from Low Dose Rate (LDR) to Pulsed Dose Rate (PDR) Brachytherapy. It has now decommissioned LDR and is running at full capacity, treating patients clinically using PDR which delivers radiation in short ‘pulses’ over several hours. The source used is typically a one Curie Iridium192 source, assembled and driven in the same way as High Dose Rate treatments. The hospital is using a Nucletron microSelectron afterloader treatment delivery platform.
To read more click here: PDF 7
Finnish Clinic’s New Elekta Radiation Therapy System Demonstrates Benefit of 3D Soft Tissue Visualization for Patients with Cancer
Image guided treatments jump 20 percent since Helsinki University Central Hospital acquires Elekta Axesse stereotactic system
Helsinki University Central Hospital (HUCH) doubled its Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) capability with the acquisition of Elekta Axesse™, a system that provides 3D image guidance technology for conventional and stereotactic radiation therapy techniques. After eight months of use, HUCH has increased its Axesse caseload to as many as 30 patients each day for a variety of tumors in the lung, brain, head and neck and pelvis.
To read more click here: PDF 8
MES Sales Manager / Director
£ market rate + significant bonus opportunity
Medipass is a specialist provider of advanced medical equipment solutions, working with and supporting hospitals to provide great patient care including all imaging modalities, radiotherapy and other advanced hospital equipment. Providing equipment efficiencies and innovation, from a single major machine, through to a department or whole hospital solution. Medipass provides service internationally. This role will focus on the UK market and may require occasional international travel.
Medipass is now seeking a MES Sales Manager / Director to grow the UK business, to be part of a multi disciplinary team to bid for, negotiate and close long term MES contracts within the NHS and private sector. This is a key appointment for Medipass and a fantastic opportunity for an experienced MES sales manager to join a rapidly expanding organisation at an exciting time in its development. The candidate will have extensive and proven experience of the UK MES market particularly in the NHS. Attributes of the winning candidate will include a 'can-do' attitude, strong interpersonal skills, commercial acumen and a values oriented approach to business.
Please contact Sophie Seymour at Medipass Healthcare Ltd
sophie.seymour@medipasshealthcare.com
For more jobs go to: http://www.radpro.org.uk/jobs/employment.php
www.CompareRad.com the first Radiotherapy and Radiology product comparison website…Simple!
November 2011: New Brachytherapy treatment systems and software solutions
December 2011: Radiotherapy recruitment, CPD for radiographers and radiography student training feature. Also a new CPD Blog to be based on RadPro!
January 2012: General radiotherapy news edition
February 2012: Update on Prostate Cancer treatment solutions
February: Your feature subject of choice? Just let us know at admin@RadPro.eu now
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Duncan Hynd, October 2011