Varian and Brainlab Combine TrueBeam STx with the Novalis Radiosurgery Program

2 August 2010

Your browser does not support inline frames or is currently configured not to display inline frames. Varian Medical Systems (Varian) and Brainlab are expanding their radiosurgery partnership to incorporate their Novalis technology and other Novalis radiosurgery program elements into the recently launched TrueBeam STx system.

The expanded suite of products will be badged 'Novalis powered by TrueBeam STx'. This will give clinicians radiosurgical and image-guidance capabilities designed for targeted stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) treatments. It will include Brainlab iPlan treatment planning and ExacTrac room-based X-ray imaging technology as well as Varian’s HD120 MLC multileaf collimator for high resolution beam shaping.

“TrueBeam STx technology will significantly enhance the Varian-Brainlab offering to the radiosurgery market with its significant speed and precision,” said Dow Wilson, Executive Vice President, Oncology Systems, Varian Medical Systems, Inc. “The Novalis Radiosurgery Program includes a comprehensive package of clinical applications, workflow, knowledgebase and training for radiosurgery.”

The TrueBeam STx is especially configured for advanced radiosurgery and is designed to treat a moving target with unprecedented speed and accuracy. A TrueBeam system can deliver treatments up to 50 percent faster and with a dose delivery rate of up to 2400 monitor units per minute, double the maximum output of earlier, industry-leading Varian systems. This makes it possible to offer greater patient comfort by shortening treatments and to improve precision by leaving less time for tumour motion during dose delivery.

The agreement is an extension of a relationship between the two companies that began in 1996, and grew with their collaboration on the Novalis Tx radiosurgery platform, launched in 2007.

“Expanding our partnership with Varian to combine TrueBeam STx with the Novalis Radiosurgery Program gives us a stronger and broader platform for innovation in neurosurgery,” said Stefan Vilsmeier, CEO, Brainlab. “We believe the combination of our leading technologies can help make significant clinical advancements in the fight against cancer and other neurological conditions. Our goal is to increase access to advanced treatment,”