October 2 2011  |  News Release 

A brachytherapy solution that enables very precise dose delivery for gynecologic cancers 

MIAMI (October 2, 2011) — During the first day of the annual conference for the American Society for Radiation Oncology  (ASTRO) in Miami, Nucletron, an Elekta company, today announced that it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for its new Vaginal CT/MR Multi Channel (VCMC) Applicator, offering a brachytherapy solution that enables very precise dose delivery for gynecologic cancers. Combined with Oncentra® treatment planning software this applicator makes it possible to reach new levels of workflow optimization.

“Our new vaginal applicator has been developed to fulfill the wish of many radiotherapists to deliver the radiation dose where it matters most, with greater precision. Thanks to a unique design featuring channels which follow the curve of the applicator tip, health care providers can now deliver radiation directly to the target area, while sparing surrounding healthy tissues,” says Jos Lamers, CEO of Nucletron.  “The recent results of the PORTEC-2 study underlined the role of brachytherapy in preventing cancer recurrence in women following surgery for uterine cancer, while resulting in significantly lower side effects, and significantly better quality of life.  The new VCMC will allow health care teams to build on these results in treating women with gynecologic cancers.”

Bringing the right dose to the right place is critical in successful vaginal brachytherapy. The Vaginal CT/MR Multi Channel Applicator provides accurate target coverage and maximizes conformity in the treatment of gynecologic cancers. It features Nucletron’s Precise Dose Delivery Solution (PDDSTM) technology, an innovative system that loads several source channels in the applicator, with a unique catheter geometry. This results in a dwell position that is very close to the target area, allowing for greater treatment precision. This applicator is designed to optimize the dose distribution to help prevent recurrence, while minimizing toxicity, side effects and impaired quality of life.

The VCMC Applicator is easy to assemble, clean and sterilize and integrates seamlessly with Nucletron’s Oncentra treatment planning software. Automatic reconstruction of the exact geometry of the applicator dramatically  improves the speed of planning, and ensures precise and reproducible placement of the applicator.

The Vaginal CT/MR Multi Channel Applicator will be on display for demonstration during ASTRO’s annual conference October 2-4 in the Nucletron Booth #2001.
 
About Elekta
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care. Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives.
Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 6,000 hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,300 employees globally. The corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. Website: http://www.elekta.com/.

About Nucletron, an Elekta Company
Nucletron was recently acquired by Elekta and  provides state of the art radiotherapy solutions for cancer treatment that meet the evolving needs of patients, their caregivers and healthcare professionals around the world. Nucletron has unmatched global leadership in brachytherapy, a very precise, highly effective and well-tolerated treatment option for healthcare providers, tailored to the needs of individual patients. The company works with clinical teams to constantly improve and develop an innovative portfolio of integrated products, software and services that assures excellent patient outcomes. Headquartered in Veenendaal, The Netherlands, Nucletron employs more than 500 employees, with offices in 18 countries, and products available in more than 100 countries around the world. Website: http://www.nucletron.com/