Elekta and Brainlab Collaborate to Streamline Treatment Workflows for Stereotactic Radiation Therapy

Elekta (EKTA-B.ST) and Brainlab have reconfirmed their alliance for the integrated use of the Elekta Versa HD™ linear accelerator and Brainlab ExacTrac® patient positioning and monitoring technology. The integration of these two technologies offers high definition stereotactic radiosurgery (HDRS) treatments with versatile patient positioning and monitoring through simplified workflows. For the first time, a Versa HD system augmented with ExacTrac will be displayed at the Elekta booth (#1917) during the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) Annual Meeting, which is taking place September 24-27 in San Diego.

The number of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) procedures is expected to increase dramatically between 2014 and 2024 (70 percent and 103 percent, respectively). This growth is substantially larger than the estimated increase in the number of patients estimated for these treatments (22 percent and 26 percent, respectively), reflecting the wider adoption of stereotactic radiation to treat intra- as well as extra-cranial tumors. Innovative workflows that address the challenges associated with using these procedures for different anatomies are essential to ensuring a high degree of safety, efficacy and efficiency.The number of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) procedures is expected to increase dramatically between 2014 and 2024 (70 percent and 103 percent, respectively). This growth is substantially larger than the estimated increase in the number of patients estimated for these treatments (22 percent and 26 percent, respectively), reflecting the wider adoption of stereotactic radiation to treat intra- as well as extra-cranial tumors. Innovative workflows that address the challenges associated with using these procedures for different anatomies are essential to ensuring a high degree of safety, efficacy and efficiency.

In line with the growing adoption of radiosurgery, the Versa HD HDRS and ExacTrac solution will provide clinicians the following benefits:

• Support the delivery of high definition stereotactic treatments in standard treatment slots, regardless of tumor complexity or anatomy

• Frameless stereotactic solutions for multiple anatomical applications

• Integrated workflows and robust image guidance and motion management during delivery for coplanar and non-coplanar treatments 

Nearly 70 leading cancer centers across the globe have acknowledged and utilized the mutual benefits of Versa HD together with ExacTrac.

Ludwig-Maximilian University (LMU) Hospital in Munich has used the integrated system for more than two years. “The integration of Versa HD and ExacTrac enables a seamless workflow that allows us to improve patient comfort while reducing treatment time,” said Prof. Claus Belka, MD, Director Department of Radiation Oncology at LMU. “Combined, these technologies give us the flexibility to treat complex tumors that require extremely precise targeting using the same systems with which we treat more conventional cases. This helps us to reduce the cost of delivering quality care to all of our patients.” 

The companies have a history of collaborating to provide innovative solutions to not only the radiosurgery community but also neurosurgery. In September 2016, the companies announced an agreement designed to ensure the continuous evolution of interoperability and safety of Elekta’s Leksell® Vantage™ Stereotactic System and Elements Stereotaxy treatment planning and verification software from Brainlab. The integrated use of both systems is designed to improve the safety and accuracy of stereotactic neurosurgical procedures. In June 2017, the companies announced that Brainlab would be the authorized distributor of Elekta’s stereotactic solutions for neurosurgery in selected markets.

“The combination of these technologies will help advance the care and outcomes of patients undergoing SRT and may make this important treatment option available to more patients,” said Maurits Wolleswinkel, Elekta’s Chief Strategy Officer. “We are pleased to expand our collaboration with Brainlab, a company that shares our commitment to using innovation to improve patients’ lives and increase the efficiency and efficacy of the radiation therapy treatment continuum.”

“Brainlab has always strived to provide streamlined treatment workflows and solutions to improve cancer treatments for patients. Intra-operability with various delivery systems was key for Brainlab to achieve that,” commented Claus Promberger, Director Product Definition at Brainlab. “The partnership with Elekta is a great testimony to the potential of ExacTrac as a versatile and precise patient monitoring and positioning system.”

To learn more about Versa HD, visit elekta.com/VersaHD. To learn more about ExacTrac visit brainlab.com/radiosurgery-products/radiosurgery-products/exactrac//.