The Process Of Buying A Linear Accelerator

It takes a great deal of forethought when purchasing any large piece of medical equipment, especially a linear accelerator.  The process of buying medical equipment should be left to an experienced team of experts.  It takes a great deal of planning and commitment to quality in order to ensure the equipment purchased meets your facilities exact needs.

Each of these three elements: an experienced team, commitment to quality and detailed planning all make for successful purchasing of a linear accelerator or other large pieces of medical equipment.  When you begin researching linear accelerators there are a number of things to take into account including: the facilities budget, the actual cost of the equipment, operating costs and the facilities objectives.

Linear accelerators are an essential piece of equipment for a radiation oncology department to successfully treat clients.  This piece of machinery allows for a complete patient treatment plan to be provided. Although necessary the purchase of such large scaled medical equipment can be complex and expensive.  Purchasing used or refurbished LINAC machines over brand new equipment allows medical facilities a more reasonably priced manner in which to accumulate pieces; thus allowing them to continue bringing unparalleled care to their patients.

Your facilities needs and budget will help to define whether you should be looking into new, used or refurbished linear accelerators.  In smaller medical facilities purchasing used or refurbished equipment may offer you the best of both worlds: superb patient care along with profitability.  Refurbished linear accelerators are also a good option for facilities needing LINAC technology at a reasonable cost such as vet clinics, industrial users, research facilities and other non-medical uses.

There are many benefits to purchasing a refurbished linear accelerator for your facility.  It allows you to offer a service that may not have been previously offered which in turn allows your business to grow.  If your facility already offers radiation services, purchasing a refurbished linear accelerator allows you to service more patients and offer a backup in case one of the systems should fail.  It also allows for machines to be maintained and serviced without affecting the patient’s treatment plan.

Independent suppliers and service companies dedicated to selling and servicing refurbished linear accelerators and CT scanners are available to facilitate your purchase from start to finish.  They will assist your team of experts in creating a detailed plan considering physical building and room constraints as well as power and plumbing issues.  With your budget and timeline in mind they will help find refurbished equipment that meets your facilities needs.

From finding a machine from a preferred manufacturer, a machine that will meet or exceed your longevity needs, to obtaining equipment without unnecessary accessories and upgrades, the teams at Acceletronics and Radparts will help you find a refurbished linear accelerator or ct scanner that fits your facilities needs.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Success In Expanding Medical Facilities

Medical facilities are in a constant state of growth.  Centers that continue with the status quo path become stagnant.  It is imperative, for services to continue, that facilities keep up with the changing treatment options technology offers patients.  Refusing to keep pace with changing technology will inevitably cause your medical center to crumble.  In order to thrive and be successful in your endeavors your goal must remain steadfast; you must offer patients an unwavering commitment to the quality of patient care through trained staff and up to date equipment.

As a hospital or clinic continues to increase the services they provide they will most likely encounter the need to purchase large scaled equipment like linear accelerators and ct scanners.  Medical machinery is not mass produced and therefore each piece of equipment will have its own unique set of quirks.  With most facilities purchasing refurbished medical equipment, parts and supplies a review of the machines service history can be quiet telling.  Take a close look into what services have been performed and the frequency of service.

After this step is complete the next step is to analyze how the machine was previously utilized.  In linear accelerators each system has a set number of hours beams can expect to perform.  Reviewing this will allow you to see just how much the equipment has been used therefore allowing you to make certain estimations about its future.

The final step before making any purchase is to perform a physical inspection of the piece of equipment you are looking to purchase.  When performing the inspection you can get a detailed look at the machine.  It is also the time when you can ask questions regarding the systems usage on a daily basis.  This is crucial in learning the machines idiosyncrasies prior to using it in your own facility.

When budgeting for the purchase of a used or refurbished linear accelerator one of the main concerns should be the overall cost of owning and operating the machine.  When a machine is refurbished it is either done so for mechanical and/or cosmetic purposes.  Linear accelerators that have been refurbished operate as good as new LINAC.  Ask the seller for a detailed service report that includes all of the services that were performed before and during the refurbishing process.  Decipher what parts on the equipment have been replaced.  Were they replaced with new or refurbished parts?  Understand the warranty for both the machine and components to determine what you will be responsible for verse what is covered if the machine should fail in the future.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Safely Delivering Radiation Using Linear Accelerator Equipment

Linac, short for linear accelerator, is a piece of medical equipment used in radiology.  It matches high powered x-ray energy up with the shape of cancerous tumors, destroying the cancerous cells while preserving the healthy tissue surrounding the area.    Using a linear accelerator, oncology radiologists can be sure that a higher does than what has been prescribed is not being delivered to the area.  The machines are frequently checked by medical physicists to ensure proper function.

As a patient needing radiation therapy a treatment plan is developed specifically for you with the support of experts including a radiation oncologist, a radiation dosimetrist and a medical physicist.  Before the treatment begins your oncologist with double a triple check the plan and create a course of action to ensure that the radiation is delivered in the exact same manner each and every time.

LINAC devices are used to provide external beam radiation treatments for cancer patients.  The linear accelerator treats various areas throughout the body.  The concentrated x-ray beams are centered on the tumor in hope that the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor will be spared.  The linear accelerator allows the x-rays to be sent in the shape of the tumor using blocks in the head of the machine or a multi-leaf collimator that is a part of the machine head.

During treatment the patient is positioned on a moveable couch like table.  The patient remains still while the table and linear accelerator is moved into position for optimal treatment of the tumor.  The linear accelerator is operated by a radiation therapist.  This professional is in charge of actually delivering the correct dose of radiation prescribed by the radiation oncologist.

When radiation is delivered the safety of the patient and the therapist is of utmost importance.  In order to ensure that the proper treatment plan is in place it is thoroughly checked by the radiation oncologist, radiation dosimetrist and physicist before the treatments are performed.   Several quality control checks are in place to ensure that the treatment is given as prescribed.

Systems are built directly into the linear accelerator to ensure that a dose higher then what is prescribed is not delivered to the patient.  Checks are preformed daily by the linear accelerator operator, radiation therapist, to make certain the radiation intensity is uniform across the beam and that the machine is in proper working order.  On top of this the radiation physicist performs weekly and monthly checks on the machine.  Modern day LINAC have internal systems that check the machine and do not allow it to be turned on until all of the treatment requirements are met.  Patient and operator safety is of utmost important when radiation distribution is concerned.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

2016 December Specials

You Don’t Have To Compromise When Choosing Medical Equipment

In order to run a competent medical facility such as a hospital, diagnostic health center or pharmacy you must not only have a solid team of professionals but also top notch medical equipment.  Without the right equipment and staff in position to operate them it is likely that your facility will be bypassed by patients looking for top quality care.

When medical facilities are looking to choose equipment they should never compromise.   A professional team should be established to check into the right parameters and purchase the top equipment and devices that can be purchased within their budget.  Often times a way that this can be done without breaking the facilities budget is with the purchase of refurbished medical equipment.  The choices available within the market should be examined thoroughly.

The difference between life and death can come down to the equipment that a facility chooses to purchase.  Purchasing a quality piece of equipment is something that facilities should never ignore.  The best product is one that often is backed by a top brand name.  Often times the price tag which comes with these top brand name products will break the facilities budget for medical equipment.  What is important is that facilities seek to get the best quality equipment at the best price even if it means purchasing refurbished medical equipment.

It is important to know the supplier in which you are purchasing medical equipment from.  Without a doubt, you should know that you are getting the best equipment at the best price.  Ask the supplier for referrals of clients that are currently using them to supply their equipment.  If you are interested in doing business with the supplier it is important to ensure that they take care of their existing customer base while building upon their business.  The more positive referrals you are given the more likely you are to be convinced that you are making the right decision when it comes to who will supply your medical equipment now and in the future.

The cost of medical equipment will always be a factor in the decision making process.  Suppliers should offer competitive pricing for the quality of equipment being purchased.  The value if your dollar should be equivalent to the value of the equipment you are receiving.  Never compromise on the quality of the medical equipment you purchase, it is crucial in the treatment of your patients and the quality of their care.

Another important factor to consider is the care you will receive after the sale.  The after sales support and service received is of the utmost importance when choosing the right supplier to purchase your medical equipment from.  Complex medical equipment must be serviced properly to increase its longevity.  It is crucial that when choosing a supplier to purchase medical equipment that your medical facility take the above into consideration to ensure the best possible results for your facility.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Choosing A Reliable Company To Purchase New and Refurbished Medical Equipment From

Medical facilities that are looking to buy new or refurbished medical equipment are presented with a task that seems quite overwhelming.  To find quality equipment and supplies for your medical practice or hospital it is important to find a reliable company to work with.  A company that will supply new and refurbished equipment while linking with a superior maintenance and repair support center is something all medical facilities look for.

Consider the following questions prior to selecting a company to work with in purchasing new and refurbished medical equipment and supplies.

• When purchasing equipment and supplies from your company what is the price difference between buying new and refurbished medical equipment?
• Are there features on the equipment that are not needed that we are paying additional for?
• How long has your company been doing business with medical facilities? Do you have recent referrals that we can speak with that have bought new and refurbished medical equipment?  What do you offer to your clients that make you a more reputable supplier than other companies in the industry?
• What is the process that is followed to refurbish medical equipment?

At times it will be a more realistic to buy new medical equipment over refurbished.  Sometimes the price difference will not be enough of a difference to merit purchasing refurbished equipment over new.  Some products like step stools, bed pans and stainless steel supplies don’t save enough in the long run for it to be necessary to consider buying refurbished.  Purchasing these items new will guarantee the cosmetic and operational functions without affecting longevity.

Other times, when purchasing larger pieces of equipment such as operating tables, stretchers, patient monitors and such the savings may be quite significant in purchasing refurbished over new.  The savings have been known to be upwards of fifty percent.  When looking at the overall expense of larger medical equipment like linear accelerators and ct scanners the savings can be quite substantial.

Be wary of purchasing refurbished equipment is paying for features that your facility does not need.  If your facility has a policy against treating patients with a body weight over five hundred pounds then a surgical table rated for a thousand pounds would be useless.  A quality supplier will understand what you need and will not try to sell you a product that does not fit that need.  Suppliers of medical equipment, new and refurbished, are in the business to build relationships not to rip clients off by selling them equipment with features that are unneeded.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Refurbished Medical Equipment Is A Solid Choice For Your Budget

Medical facilities seeking to purchase top brand name equipment should look to suppliers selling and servicing refurbished medical supplies.  Choosing new or refurbished medical equipment for your facility is n undertaking that should be overseen by an expert task force.  Finding a company to supply and service your medical equipment is quite a task.  Refurbished equipment can be as reliable as brand new medical equipment at a fraction of the cost of the original, name brand piece.

When looking into buying new or refurbished equipment there are a few questions that medical facilities should ask medical equipment suppliers when considering a purchase.  The first thing to discuss is the price difference between new and refurbished medical equipment.  It is also crucial to discuss exactly what the facility needs to avoid purchasing equipment that has a number of features that are not needed.   Speak to referrals to make sure that you are purchasing from a reputable company.  Discuss with the supplier the special needs of purchasing refurbished equipment.

There are sometimes when purchasing refurbished equipment is not necessarily that much of a cost savings to your facility.  Items that are stainless steel, step stools and such just don’t save that much over new.  Purchasing these items new will allow for the same or better life span without forgoing cosmetic or operational pitfalls.  Larger items like linear accelerators, tables to perform operations, monitors and such can offer a significant savings when comparing between the cost of new and refurbished medical equipment and supplies.  Some refurbished medical suppliers can save facilities upwards of fifty percent of buying new.

When buying medical equipment that is new facilities often end up paying for features that are not needed.  Some that is completely useless. What is more important when purchasing medical equipment is that it comes equipped with the features you will need and use.  A reputable supplier of refurbished medical equipment and supplies should have distinct knowledge of what your company is in need of and what fits your medical centers needs.

A reputable company that sells refurbished medical equipment will never try to oversell you.  Well established refurbished medical suppliers are around for reasons other than ripping off medical facilities.  Companies that you will want to work with don’t try to oversell you because they have abundance of a certain unit or because of an increased profit margin. They will sell you equipment based on your facilities needs and desires.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Look what showed up on the Acuren website!

This is the linac that they purchased from the team at Acceletronics last year!

Check out Acuren and their website at http://www.acuren.com.

Radparts.com November Specials 2016

Key Players In The Treatment Of Cancer

There are many key players involved in using radiation therapy in the treatment of cancer including: radiation oncologists, physicists, dosimetrists, radiation therapists and nurses.  Working in collaboration with one another a plan of action is developed that is unique to each and every individuals cancer and treatment goals.  Each player being a central piece in ensuring that the plan for treating the cancer runs smoothly, patient care needs are exceeded and that end treatment goals are met. 

A radiation oncologist is the physician in charge of treatment that has completed their residency specializing in radiation oncology.  They control the role that radiation therapy will play for the patient.  From patient care, treatment planning through to evaluating the patient’s response to treatment the radiation oncologist is accountable. 

Both physicists and dosimetrists aid the radiation oncologist in treating the patient.  These individuals are the ones that are depended on to create immobilization devices that will hold patients in one position throughout radiation treatment.  This ensures that the patient is still and the beams of radiation from the linear accelerator machine can narrow in on the cancerous tumors instead of the healthy tissues surrounding the area.  They are also responsible for generating computer plans, calculating radiation doses and carry out a system of checks and balances to ensure that treatment is accurate.

The radiation therapists are in charge of daily treatments and for the simulation procedures.  Every day radiation therapists work closely with patients to assist in care including treatment positioning, making sure the radiation field is on target and delivering treatment.  Radiation therapists work closely with radiation oncologists to determine changes that need to be made before the next treatment.

Nurses carry a great deal of responsibility when it comes to cancer treatment.  They are the individuals that are responsible for the patients care before, during and after treatment.  Nurses assist radiation oncologists with everything from coordinating appointments, keeping up to date on client’s symptoms relating to their treatment as well as making referrals for social services as needed.  Nurses are the people that work to keep not only the patient but also their families up to date on treatments, side effects, medications and plans for long-term.  Nurses are the main support staff for the patient. 

Many different professionals are needed to provide radiation therapy effectively to patients. There is not one job more important than the next when it comes to ensuring that patients are receiving adequate care and treatment. 

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Step By Step Cancer Treatment Planning

There are many steps that need to be taken in the treatment of cancer.  With advancements in technology and the use of equipment such as CT scanners and linear accelerators cancer is more treatable than ever before.  The treatment of cancer varies slightly depending on the type of cancer being treated however the steps involved in the process remain virtually the same throughout. 

Consultation: When a patient is first diagnosed with cancer and radiation is needed patients will make an appointment to meet with a radiation oncologist for a consultation.  During this visit the patient’s medical history will be reviewed at great lengths.  Recommendations will be discussed so that a plan for radiation treatment can be formed.

Simulations:  The next step involved in radiation therapy as part of a treatment plan for cancer is simulation.  This is the visit in which patients will be positioned for treatment.  It is important that treatment positioning is done to determine how the body should lay during treatment to best target the tumor.  Often immobilization devices are designed to mold to a patient to allow them to easily be positioned for treatment.  Medical immobilization devices are not always needed for radiation therapy.

During simulations x-rays and CT scans are performed to compare the tumors location to the location of the healthy tissue surrounding it.  Often times contrasting material is used to allow technicians to visualize certain landmarks that would not otherwise be visible.  These are removed after the x-ray is taken and in their places small markings are left on the skin to allow visual representation for treatment the following day. 

Planning: Radiation oncologists, physics staff and dosimetrists are all three linked in the treatment planning process. Radiation oncologists design the field for treatment using the x-ray images that were obtained during the simulation process.  The physics staff is in charge of shaping the radiation beams that are to be used in treatment to prevent the healthy tissue from being damaged while targeting the cancerous tumor. 

Along with computer technology the dosimetrist and radiation oncologist work together to determine the best dose of radiation for the treatment field selected.  This process may take more than one visit.  The goal being that each day the same treatment field is receiving the needed radiation without damaging healthy, surrounding tissues while not over treating the tumor.

Treatment:  Radiation treatments themselves do not hurt.  It is however crucial to have the patient remains completely still throughout the entire treatment process which often can be difficult. 

Typical Treatment Day:  During treatment the radiation patient will check in at the reception desk.  They will then be escorted into the treatment room where the clothing that is covering the area that is to be treated is uncovered.  Patients are made comfortable, shielding is set in place, therapists place the linear accelerator and the appropriate does is given.  Once this is complete the patient is free to leave.

Side Effects of Radiation:  The most common side effects in radiation therapy are exhaustion, loss of energy and skin tenderness.  Most often skin irritation only occurs at the area where the treatment is being administered.  Other side effects such as hair loss, sore throat, coughing, nausea and vomiting can occur but are not as common.  It is good to note that most side effects will usually resolve themselves in four to six weeks after completing treatment.

Aftercare: In any surgery or procedure the support before and during are as equally as important as the support and care the patient receives after.  A crucial element in the recovery process after radiation therapy is to keep you radiation oncologist keyed in on changes to your health.  It is also important that the patient stay on track with the scheduled treatment plan to avoid having a negative impact on the outcome goal.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Treating Cancer With Radiation

Radiation therapy involves using specific energy carried by waves or streams of particles in order to treat numerous types of cancer.  When it involves radiation there are several different levels of energy.  All of us have been exposed to certain low levels of radiation through things like the sun and x-rays.  Higher levels of radiation energy however can be used in the treatment of cancers and other illnesses.  Radiation therapy takes and makes use of these high-energy rays and particles to treat cancer.

By definition cancer is a tumor which consists of an overgrowth of abnormal cells.  As the abnormal cells grow they multiply and begin to divide quickly producing new cancerous tumor cells.  This ability, to multiply and divide without any limits and take over normal cells, makes cancerous cells different. 

There are numerous types of cancers.  Each different cancer is unique in how it grows and reacts to treatment.  Radiation therapy is just one type of treatment for cancer.  It helps treat cancer by interfering with the cell’s ability to multiple and divide.  In high doses, radiation, defeats cancer by stopping the growth of further cells and killing the existing cancerous cells. 

There are four main approaches to treating cancer including: radiation therapy, surgery, chemotherapy and biological therapy.  No two cancers are alike therefore no two treatments are alike.  Cancers are each unique, research has helped physicians determine the treatment or combination of treatments that is most useful in treatment.  Surgery may be used in combination with radiation therapy, chemotherapy and/or biological therapy.  In order to treat cancer or relieve patients from the undesirable symptoms of cancer, like bleeding or pain, radiation therapy is used. 

Many types of cancer such as brain tumors, head and neck cancers, lung cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, skin cancer, rectal cancer, cervix cancer, uterine cancer, lymphoma and sarcoma are all commonly treated using radiation therapy. 

There are two different manners in which radiation therapy can be given: external beam irradiation and brachytherapy, or internal radiation.  External beams irradiation is the most common method of treating cancer using radiation.  The treatment distributes radiation to specific, targeted areas of the body using a large machine similar to an x-ray machine called a linear accelerator.  Treatment using linear accelerator equipment is given every day, Monday through Friday, for anywhere between one and eight weeks depending on the type of cancer and the reason why the patient is receiving treatment.  It can be given between once a day to three times a day depending on the cancer that is being treated. 

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Radio Surgery Verse Radiation Therapy

Linear accelerator machines, LINAC for short, are used to generate radiation in the form of high energy x-rays.  The LINAC systems general purpose is to deliver radiation in a direct, concentrated form.  They target cancer treatment specifically to the tumor without damaging the healthy tissues that surround the tumor.  Modifications can be done to the machine for it to be used in radio surgery and IMRT, intensity modulated radiation therapy.

Linear accelerator equipment can be dedicated or non-dedicated.  A dedicated LINAC machine is one that has additional equipment attached permanently that allows it to perform higher levels of radiation treatments.  This is the method that most radiation oncologists prefer to use.  A non-dedicated LINAC machine is one that can be used for conventional radiation therapy and converted to allow higher levels of treatment.  A non-dedicated LINAC system does not offer the same degree of accuracy in treatment that a dedicated linear accelerator does.

Radio surgery can be performed with linear accelerator machines.  Radio surgery involves a surgical procedure that neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists perform together.  This procedure often takes an entire day to perform.  The whole procedure involved immobilization, scanning, planning and the actual surgical procedure itself.  The amount of radiation given in one dose of radio surgery is less than the amount that would be given in traditional radiation therapy. The tumor that is being treated is given a much higher one time dose in radiation surgery whereas radiation therapy offers smaller doses more often.

The lower does in radiation therapy is important because of the number of times the healthy tissue surrounding the cancerous tumor is exposed to.  The side effects of too much radiation exposure on healthy cells can be permanent and incredibly dangerous.  Lower dose radiation therapy can result in poorer outcomes due to lower tumor control than what is seen in the higher single dose given during radio surgery.

More often than not the technology used in LINAC machines is best utilized in sessions over a period of time.  This is done to allow as little damage as possible to occur to the healthy tissues.  In between treatments the healthy tissue is allowed to heal and repair itself while the cancerous tumor shrinks and essentially dies.  The amount of radiation given over time may be more than that of radio surgery with this technique.  Is important to note that only your oncologist can say which treatment option is better for you cancer and unique situation.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Using a LINAC Equipment For Radiation Treatment

A linear accelerator is used in medical facilities to deliver radiation therapy to patients going through cancer treatment.  The LINAC system zeros in on a patient’s tumor to distribute high energy x-ray beams directly.  This type of treatment is designed to destroy the cancerous tumor while keeping the healthy tissue surrounding the tumor in the best possible condition.

Linear accelerators are used remedy cancer in numerous locations throughout the body.  There are a number of options in delivery of radiation using LINAC systems such as conventional techniques, Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy, Image Guided Radiation Therapy, Stereotactic Radio Surgery and Stereotactic Body Radio Therapy.

2 dimensional planning is done through imaging that is flat.  The tumor is centered and a rectangle is drawn where the imaging is to be concentrated.  With 3 dimensional planning the tumor is shown as a real time image.  The tumors can be treated more precisely than in 2 dimensional imaging because of the perspective that is given between the cancerous tumor and healthy organs.  This means that treatment can be given without too much toxicity to the healthy tissues surrounding the tumor.  Multi-leaf collimators are thin computerized blocks that attach directly to the LINAC system head and are used to shape the radiation beams to the geometric shape of the tumor.

A linear accelerator works without radioactive isotopes.  The LINAC system uses a combination of x-rays and radiation.  The benefit of linear accelerators is that radiation is only on when the machine is on.  This creates a much safer method of delivering radiation especially to the technicians in charge of delivery.

Another benefit that comes along with radiation treatment delivered using linear accelerator equipment is the speed at which treatment can be given.  More and more patients are requiring radiation therapy.  When using a LINAC machine radiation treatment time decreases to around five minutes from other standard treatment methods that take upwards of forty to fifty minutes.  The speed is not only beneficial to the medical facility as they can offer more treatments per day but also for the convenience of the patient.

Linear accelerators are a necessary piece of equipment for medical facilitates looking to improve efficiency, safety and quality of care.  LINAC systems deliver radiation that is used in treating a variety of cancers from brain cancer to prostate cancer.  With the precise techniques that radiation oncologists perform the treatment of cancer has become more successful.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

***REMINDER***

September Monthly Specials From Radparts.com

C-Series Pendant Housing Screws

Buy One Get One FREE

Radparts PN: 75 3040-00

Varian PN: TM230100412/10-900112/A230100412

Regular Price: $0.75 each

$50.00 off Deionizer Cartridges

Radparts PN: 85 6100-00

Varian PN: 832526-01 

Regular Price: $250.00 each

September Special: $200.00 each

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Cancer Treatment Using Different Radiation Therapy Techniques Part 3

In our third installment discussing different types of radiation treatment we will look into more details around image-guided radiotherapy, IGRT.  Treatment using IGRT is a bit different than previous therapies we have discussed because CT scans continue to be utilized throughout treatment to look for reduction in tumor size as well as other changes.  Using several scanned images allows the radiation oncologist to adjust treatment for changes in the position of the patient and adjust the amount of radiation needed.  IGRT leads to an increase in treatment accuracy while allowing for a decrease in radiation exposure to the tissue surrounding the tumor.

There are two main types of IGRT, stereotactic radiation and radio-surgery, such as SBRT, Gamma-Knife and Cyber-knife.  Stereotactic radiotherapy is similar to IMRT except that it involved fewer treatments, fractions.  It delivers a high dose of radiation directly into a tumor.  It delivers the radiation in a number of different angles to focus radiation all at one small area. Radio-surgery involves a single fraction whereas stereotactic radiation involves two to five fractions.  Most often this treatment is used for lesions within the brain.  This minimizes effects to normal tissue, which radiation passes through while delivering a large dose of radiation to a single point where the beams all come together.  The large number of beams angle in order to deliver radiation to a single point when precise targeting of the tumor is required.

Stereotactice radiation, also known as SBRT, is used most often for treating areas such as the lung, prostate, liver, brain and bone.  With the advancements in technology, computer imaging and patient stabilization radiation oncologists are able to offer treatment in fewer fractions.  The higher dose of radiation is delivered to the tumor while the outlying areas receive less and less harmful doses of radiation.  This type of treatment is often given with the use of linear accelerators and cyber-knife systems.  Cyber-knife is basically a linear accelerator placed on a robotic arm allowing for more freedom in movement.

Radio-surgery is most often used in the treatment of brain tumors.  The brain does not move so there are not the problems with motion that are run into with other cancer treatments.   An MRI scan is used to localize the tumor and a frame is used to position the head with great accuracy.  Radio-surgery requires both neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists during planning and treatment.  Lesions that are smaller than five centimeters can be treated using radio-surgery.

This series has outlined numerous types of radiotherapy along with the cancers best treated with each technique.  More detailed information on linear accelerators and how they can be used in the treatment of cancers is available online.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Cancer Treatment Using Different Radiation Therapy Techniques Part 2

In this installment we will continue to looking into the numerous options available inradiation therapy treatments that oncologists can use when treating cancerous tumors.  As stated previously, depending on a variety of circumstances the option in therapy chosen to treat your cancer will vary.  Your radiation oncologist is the only one that understands your unique situation and therefore is the only one that can recommend a treatment plan.

Intensity modulated radiation therapy, otherwise known as IMRT, delivers photons to treat tumors but in a manner that allows healthy structures to receive a potentially lower dose of the high radiation.  The process of IMRT begins much the same way as other methods of delivering photon radiation.  Treatment planning begins by performing a CT scan that outlines the normal organs and the cancerous tumors.  From the scans the radiation beams are positioned in a fashion to deliver the radiation to the cancerous area without affecting the healthy tissue.

The difference in IMRT is that the beams are divided into a grid that takes the one large radiation beam and divides it out into many smaller beams.  Computer software is employed to help radiation oncologists determine the best pattern to deliver radiation while sparing healthy organs.  A variety of shapes are used during treatment to ensure precise control while delivering radiation which is critical when treating tumors in difficult to reach positions.  IMRT is often utilized in the treatment of head and neck cancer where there are other critical structures close to the cancer that can be easily damaged by the strong course of radiation treatment.  IMRT is one of the most frequently used methods in delivering radiation.

There are downsides when treating cancerous tumors using IMRT as there are in all treatment options.  The time it takes to plan the course of treatment as well as the amount of time it takes to deliver the daily treatment because of the number of shapes the leaves are required to make during treatment.  Another downside is that with the beams going in numerous directions it is possible that the dose of radiation would not be as even as it is with three D conformal therapy.  Another disadvantage found is that although a high dose of radiation is spared to healthy organs a greater number of normal organs are affected by radiation because of the greater number of beams used in shaping the radiation.  New and improved intensity modulated radiation therapies continue to hit the market being tested on a variety of hard to reach tumors in the head, neck, brain, prostate, GI and lungs.

In our continued series on the numerous types of radiation we will begin to look into options in image guided radiotherapy otherwise known as IGRT.  The uniqueness of this therapy comes in that imaging scans are continually repeated to identify any changes in the tumor size and surrounding area.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

Cancer Treatment Using Different Radiation Therapy Techniques Part 1

There are numerous types of radiation therapy that oncologists are using to treat cancers today.  Several types of radiation particles or waves are used to deliver radiation treatment including photons, electrons and protons.  Photons and electrons are the used types of radiation as they are the most abundant.  Proton radiation therapy is available in a few medical therapy facilities while new proton therapies are being developed.

The three types of radiation therapy, photon, electron and proton therapy, all have the same basic effects on cancerous tissues; to eliminate them.  Each type of therapy has its own set of benefits and drawbacks which is why oncologists use it over the others in treating certain cancers.  In the following few installments on radiology treatments we will discuss why certain therapy’s are chosen by radiation oncologists over others.  Only the radiation oncologist treating you will understand your cancer situation and the best radiation therapy to best care for specific condition.

Photon Radiation Treatment Options

Photon beams are similar to those used in diagnostic x-ray machines like what would be seen to check for a bone break.  These same photon beams but in a much higher energy beam are used in radiotherapy.  Most conventional photon radiation is delivered using a machine known as a linear accelerator or linas for short.

First we will take a look into two dimensional photon therapies which are the most common therapy options in treating cancer.  This conventional radiation therapy utilizes x-ray films to determine how to best position the radiation beams to treat the cancerous tumors.  In treatment, the bones on the x-rays are used to map out the position of the tumor in relation to normal organs to allow radiologists to position the radiation beams on the targeted cancerous tumor.  In conventional radiation therapy the planning is done in a quick, efficient manner and a patient can begin the process of treatment swiftly.  Other techniques in treating cancer require lengthier planning.

Three dimensional radiation therapies use CT scanners and imaging to plan for treating tumors.  This treatment option is the most readily available within medical facilities.   One major advantage of CT-guided treatment over two dimension conventional therapy is that it allows radiation oncologists to define normal organs and cancerous tumors in three dimensions instead of the flat image present in x-ray technology.

Normally this type of treatment begins with the patient receiving a CT scan laying in the exact position they will be in for treatment.  The CT scan will outline the tumor in 3D.  Organs that are not affected will also be outlined so that during treatment they can be avoided.  The photon radiation beams will be positioned to deliver the most advantageous dose of radiation to the cancerous tumor while avoiding normal organs.

Radiologist use computer software in order to calculate the amount of radiation that is optimal to terminate the tumor while minimizing the radiation to healthy tissue.  The goal is to optimize the amount of radiation being received by the cancerous tumor while minimizing the effects of the radiation on healthy organs and tissues surrounding the area.  These calculations are constantly adjusted during treatment to take into consideration these calculations.

In order to better understand how this can be done it is important to understand how the beams are positioned using linear accelerators.  The radiation beams can be shaped in one of two ways.  The first is a leaf within the linear accelerator that can be used to form a customized radiation beam.  Usually these leaves, known as multi-leaf collimators, are made of small, shiny blocks of metal that can be quickly moved around independently of one another to form most complex configurations.  The second way that beams can be shaped is with the use cerrobend blocks that are individually molded into the desired shape.

We will continue to look into the numerous options available in radiation therapy treatments in our next installment.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.

The Ins and Outs Of External Radiation

Radiation therapy is given to patients in a few different manners.  In this article we will discuss external-beam radiation therapy.  This method is done using a linear accelerator, otherwise known as a LINAC.  Depending on the type of cancer being treated, the size of the cancer, the location of the cancer and a few other factors radiation oncologist will prescribe the best manner in which radiation therapy should be given.

Linear accelerators deliver photon beams as x-rays or gamma rays.  A photon is a unit of light or other form of electromagnetic radiation, basically a bundle of energy.  The amount of energy in any given photon will vary.  Photons within gamma rays have the uppermost level of energy followed by x-rays.

LINAC form a stream of quick moving particles using electricity that generates amounts of elevated radiation to treat cancer.  Most often external radiation is given as part of an ongoing, daily treatment plan that lasts several weeks.  Exactly how often the radiation is delivered will depend on a number of aspects such as the total amount of radiation that is to be given.

There are several methods in delivering radiation therapy using external beams.  The most commonly used method by radiation oncologists includes 3-D conformal radiation therapy.  3D-CRT uses advanced computer software and highly developed treatment machines such as linear accelerators to deliver the radiation to the location it is needed without releasing radiation to areas outside of the treatment area.

Other methods of delivering radiation therapy using external beams include:

• IMRT (Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy): IMRT uses a linear acceleratorcontrolled by computers to release a specific dosage of radiation to an exact location within a tumor. This is an incredibly advanced form of high precision radiotherapy that uses high energy x-rays to destroy cancerous cells.  This form of treatment is usually given for about five to eight week, taking weekends off to allow non-cancerous cells to heal.  Each treatment takes about ten minutes to administer.
• IGRT (Image-Guided Radiation Therapy): Imaging coordinates are utilized to direct the treatment of radiation therapy. The process uses both two and three dimensional images to guide the course of therapy.
• Tomo Therapy: In tomo therapy a machine that combines IMRT and computed tomography. This treatment options allows radiation specialists to precisely target hard to reach tumors with powerful radiation beams.  The beam is delivered in slices while the patient moves unlike other forms of radiation therapy where the therapy is paused and the treatment is paused and the patient is then set up in a different manner to receive the radiation.
• Stereotactic Radio surgery: Stereotactic radio surgery is mainly used for cancerous tumors in the head. The beam is aimed at the tumor from several directions around the head.  For this type of therapy to work properly it is important that the head is in the exact same position for treatment and that it does not move at all.

In our next installment we will look more in depth at internal radiation therapy and systematic radiation therapy.  The real talk in these installments will allow you as a patient to ask the most appropriate questions when discussing therapy options with your oncologist.

Acceletronics delivers the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models.  Our qualified oncology equipment specialists provide a quality customer experience across the USA with timely field maintenance.  We sell, repair, refurbish, move and finance oncology medical systems check out more at http://www.acceletronics.com.