GILBERT, Ariz., Feb. 7, 2013 /PRNewswire/ — Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center (Gilbert, Arizona, USA) recently acquired Elekta cancer management solutions, including two Elekta Infinity™ radiation therapy systems, each with an Agility™* 160-leaf multileaf collimator (MLC) and a HexaPOD™ patient positioning system. The center also purchased new modules for its MOSAIQ® Oncology Information System and Clarity® Soft Tissue Visualization system for image guided radiation therapy.
“We are thrilled to be able to offer our cancer patients the latest technology developments from Elekta,” says Matthew Callister , M.D., Division Chief for Radiation Oncology, Banner MD Anderson. “This commitment will ensure state-of-the-art cancer treatment options and continued innovative leadership from Banner MD Anderson in the Arizona community.”
“The growth in radiation oncology has required that we add more capacity and we have chosen advanced equipment that will both expand our capacities and provide us with new technology,” says Stephen Sapareto , Director of Medical Physics at Banner MD Anderson. “We are all very excited to be able to offer even better options to our patients.”
With its 160 high-speed, 5 mm-wide beam-shaping leaves, Agility is able to conform to the shape of the patient’s tumor, ensuring that the lesion is well targeted with improved avoidance of healthy tissues. Moreover, Agility was designed to significantly reduce the leakage of radiation from between the MLC leaves, which also translates into a decreased radiation dose to surrounding normal tissues. Agility can help reduce the patient’s time on the treatment table and lowers the chance that the patient will move during treatment.
“We are pleased to welcome Banner MD Anderson into the Elekta family of clinical users,” says Jay Hoey , Executive Vice President, Elekta North America . “We’re confident that this is the beginning of a long-term collaboration, in which we mutually strive toward better outcomes and an improved quality of life for patients with cancer.”