Radiation therapy firm Varian Medical Systems of Palo Alto, CA, will highlight a new radiotherapy planning tool at the upcoming 2007 American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) meeting in Minneapolis.
Called smart segmentation, the tool uses "intelligent" software to identify and outline within images the organs and other structures that are to be irradiated or protected in treatments such as intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT).
The first version of smart segmentation performs automatic contouring of tumors and surrounding anatomy in the thorax and the male pelvis; more anatomical sites will be added to the tool's capability, the company said. Varian expects smart segmentation to decrease the amount of time spent creating an average treatment plan by about 25% to 30%.
Also at the AAPM conference, Varian will display new software products and features such as beam angle optimization, a treatment planning tool that automates the process of choosing beam angles for administering radiation from different directions, as well as enhancements to the company's Aria oncology information system that improve the integration between medical and radiation oncology treatment information.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writers
July 19, 2007
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