Theraview TBI (Total Body Irradiation) Image Guided RadioTherapy System

Bring new confidence, reliability and safety on-line with TheraView®, the cost effective, low-dose, high resolution IGRT digital portal imaging and workstation software solution.

Acceletronics is North America's full service and sales dealer for Cablon Medical's latest TheraView Technology IGRT solutions.

The TheraView TargetCheck® IGRT workstation, which connects to your existing OEM portal imaging system, is delivered web-enabled to allow remote access for review and has image management networkoptions available that bring the full functionality of TargetCheck®, TheraView's powerful beam alignment verification software, to remote workstations thru-out the department.

 

The TheraView TBI (Total Body Irradiation) Image Guided RadioTherapy System can help you significantly improve TBI treatment procedures and outcomes. This flexible, mobile stand-alone imager is part of the integrated TheraView imaging product suite and the only commercially available TBI product of its kind today. Faster results, fewer errors. Instead of simply producing a single image, our solution relies on Intrafraction Monitoring in the form of live video capture to provide high quality megavoltage (MV) images. Video captures can be stopped and restarted to accomodate for changes in the patient's position - so there's no risk of needing to repeat the entire patient setup procedure. This will deliver significantly greater efficiency, faster results and improved treatment quality.

The TheraView Couch Setup Assist (TCSA), is an optional hardware/software solution that enables a faster, more accurate positioning of your patient. With TCSA, you can enhance patient care by reducing time spent on the treatment table and the number of trips in and out of the room by the Therapist. TCSA helps position the patient quickly with precision, reducing setup misalignments during patient setup. TCSA integrates with most all treatment couches and all movements are retraceable from the main application.

  For the department that needs an EPID installed on their existing Linac, the TheraView EPID for IGRT uses high reliability, less costly, radiation hardened, cooled C3D digital X-Ray camera technology for excellent, reliable and stable image quality, with a fiber-optic digital image transmission path to the workstation providing a virtually noise free image. TheraView mounts on any non-beam-stopper linear accelerator and provides superb real-time portal imaging. TheraView is DICOM-RT compatible with all popular image management systems and has motorized digitally controlled movements for accurate and easy set-up, use and stowage. Continual development by the experts at TheraView consistently deliver advanced timely solutions with changing treatment protocols. With the Theraview TargetCheck® IGRT workstation, TBI Image Guided RadioTherapy System or Theraview EPID, manufactured by Cablon Medical (www.theraview.com) you can deliver the current and future technology treatments with accuracy, verification and safety. Please contact us to discuss your MV imaging needs and schedule an online demonstration, we can be reached via email at info@acceletronics.com or call us at 800-543-5144.   More information can be found on our website: http://www.acceletronics.com/medical/theraview-igrt-portal-imaging-system.php and on YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R9_UAk8DMt4

Popular Options for Treating Cancer

Cancer is the second leading cause of death, morbidity, and mortality worldwide and was responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015. Staying away from tobacco and alcohol, limiting time in the sun, being physically active and eating healthy foods has been credited with reducing the risk of developing most types of cancers. There are also various screening tests that can be done for some types of cancers so they can be found as early as possible and before they have spread.

Effective Treatments

Significant improvements can be made by detecting cancer early and avoiding delays in care. This can be achieved through early diagnosis, which consists of clinical evaluation, diagnosis, staging, and access to care. There are also screening programs such as visual inspection for cervical cancer, mammography screening for breast cancer, or HPV testing for cervical cancer that aim to identify individuals with abnormalities suggestive of specific cancers.

Common types of cancers, like breast cancer, oral, and colorectal, cervical cancer have increased cure rates when caught and treated early. There are also vaccines that have proven useful in treating cancers that are caused by viruses such as the human papilloma virus (HPV).

Medical equipment such as the linear accelerator machine has the ability to deliver another type of cancer treatment using intensity modulated radiation therapy. Linear accelerator machines use excessive energy x-ray, commonly known as microwave technology, fit to the tumor’s shape to destroy cancer cells while protecting the surrounding healthy tissue.

This next point is geared toward addressing various safety concerns of patients that come with using this medical equipment. It doesn’t matter whether the linear accelerator machine is new or a refurbished LINAC system because, in the hands of a competent radiation oncologist, patients can expect to receive the appropriate treatment volume and dosage.

Proper Testing an Maintenance

Doctors who work with linear accelerator machines also perform consistent safety checks before treatment is given and the regular maintenance of the equipment is not only to alleviate the delivery of a higher dose than the radiation oncologist has prescribed but also to ensure that any malfunctions during the treatment process never occurs.

A new or refurbished LINAC system will make clicking or whirring sounds similar to a vacuum cleaner, which may scare patients. The radiation therapist controls the movement and checks to ensure that the equipment is working properly and he or she is there to stop the machine if by any chance a patient is concerned about anything that is happening in the treatment room or feels uncomfortable during the treatment.

Quality Treatment

Continual improvement of medical imaging equipment is important, especially when a medical practitioner wants to benefit his practice in both patient quality care and staff productivity. Not only have new technological advances in radiation therapy made life easier for cancer patients, but ongoing investment in new technology is now making treatments quicker, accurate and effective, therefore making this form of therapy a popular option for treating cancer and reducing its recurrence.

Acceletronics is an independent service company dedicated to delivering the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models. Learn more about Acceletronics and their selection of new and refurbished linear accelerators and CT scanners today at http://www.acceletronics.com.  To contact one of our LINAC experts call 610.524.3300.

Should You Repair or Replace Medical Equipment?

For hospitals and medical equipment owners, the dilemma of whether to repair or replace faulty medical equipment can be a headache. When it comes to oncology equipment components and parts are important to be in top-notch condition so that there is no discrepancy left in treating patients with these important medical devices.

If you are someone who is finding it hard to whether replace or repair the components of your LINAC, then we are here to help you decide.

Take A Look At the History

First, consider the equipment’s past.  According to Healthcare Finance, one of the many things to look for when deciding between repairing and replacing is considering the equipment’s past. Since you have been operating the equipment for long, you should have a good idea of how it had been in the past. Has it had to be repaired, just once in a blue moon or is this first time that it needs to be repaired. If the equipment has needed to be constantly repaired or seems to be failing more and more often than maybe it is time that it is replaced.

Then leverage the costs between repairing the equipment constantly and buying a new machine.  You may find that repairing then equipment costs more than purchasing a new one. This fact holds true especially for the components that have been used for a long time. You should compare the costs of the new equipment and the cost of repairing and then reach a decision.

Also look at the performance of the devices.  Has it been performing well?  Has it been breaking down?  Too often, a broken device does not work properly even after it is repaired. Thus, in this situation, changing it or only the part which had been repaired becomes imperative. You shouldn’t resort to the faulty performance of the instrument just because it costs less.

What do manufacturers say about this?

You shouldn’t replace any equipment just because of a tiny fault for that is going to increase the burden on your pocket. However, when it comes to the following considerations, manufacturers prefer complete replacement.

Innovation in technology is happening every day. There are many parts of LINAC which are improved for better performance. The advance linear accelerators of today have better functionality and reduced breaking frequency. Also, the fact cannot be ignored that some patients prefer to be treated with new and innovative equipment rather than the ones that had been made years ago. Considering this, it becomes important to think about replacing the medical equipment so that treatments are carried out in a better way.

Obtaining peace of mind is an important element for patients and medical facilities.  Evaluating the right price of repairing can be very hard. Before you call a repairer, you should consider how long the equipment would go further in the future after the repair. As you can see this whole process just takes away the peace of mind, replacing the equipment is a better option. Most medical equipment comes with a warranty as you might know. This means that you can expect no burdens of repairing for a long time to come.

Look At Your Finances

If we were to give you a clear-cut verdict on whether you should change or repair your linear accelerator parts or LINAC parts, then we’d say that considering all the factors above, it solely depends upon the state of your company’s finance at the time the machine broke down.
Acceletronics is an independent service company dedicated to delivering the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models. Learn more about Acceletronics and their selection of new and refurbished linear accelerators and CT scanners today at http://www.acceletronics.com.  To contact one of our LINAC experts call 610.524.3300.

How Do Linear Accelerators & CT Scanners Work In Cancer Treatment?

Cancerous cells in the body grow and divide rapidly.  Faster in fact than ordinary treatment machines can handle. The level of growth in cancer cells is in high proportion compared to the growth of healthy cells around the same area. The cancerous cells are developing quickly and in no time at all will turn into tumors causing excruciating pains and discomfort to the patient. For this reason, a special treatment machine, a linear accelerator, is needed to stem the advancement of the cancer cell and protect healthy cells from fallen victims during treatment.  This radiation equipment is often referred to as LINAC systems and work with CT scanners to treat and detect areas of the body affected by cancer cells.

Targeting Cancer

Linear accelerators & CT scanners use a focused beam of energy to destroy cancerous cells while avoiding healthy tissues in surrounding areas from damage. The machine aims at delivering targeted treatment through the generation of energy-intensive beams delivered from different angles to focus on the parts affected by the tumor to pass a precision quantity of radiation energy to treat cancer patients.

Before commencing treatment with linear accelerators, the treatment plan will involve different types of 3-D scans of the body such as CT scanners, PET scan or MRI. These scans and some other test results conducted by the radiation oncologist and a team of treatment experts will determine the best technique suitable for each case.

How Cancer Treatments Work

Linear accelerators or LINAC works by using image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) which involves applying a variety of digital imaging technology to locate the exact location of the tumor in the patient’s body and target the area for treatment. This advanced, precision-driven radiation therapy is used worldwide to battle the scourge of cancers globally. The exciting part of this equipment is its ability to locate and treat a dynamic ailment as cancer which is known to shift from time to time, and therefore LINAC uses powerful precision target radiation beam energy to pinpoint the exact location of a tumor and destroys it with minimal damage to healthy cells.

Linear accelerators use photons (X-rays) to deliver IGRT radiation. The machine is about 15 feet long and stands nearly nine feet tall which rotates around the patient with great precision. LINAC uses microwave energy, just like what is used in satellite TV transmission to accelerate electrons at almost the speed of light. Upon getting to the highest rate, the electrons collide with a tungsten target and releases photons.

3 Steps Of Treatment

Cancer treatment involves three steps: diagnosis, treatment planning, and treatment delivery. The starting stage – diagnosis, uses the CT scanners to pinpoint the exact location of the tumor, the planning stage is using simulation to confirm the precise location of the cancer cells further because it will require radiation beam for treatment and it is essential to avoid killing healthy cells. Once the cancer cells are localized, the radiation treatment plan is concluded, and treatment delivery will commence.

Treatment delivery is a highly coordinated effort to ensure maximum impact. It could be 5 days per week schedule which may last for nine weeks or so. Due to the seriousness and highly sensitive nature of cancer treatment, using linear accelerators require intensive treatment preparations involving CT scanners and other diagnostic tools to ascertain the exact position of cancer cells before delivering the therapy.

Acceletronics is an independent service company dedicated to delivering the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models. Learn more about Acceletronics and their selection of new and refurbished linear accelerators and CT scanners today at http://www.acceletronics.com.  To contact one of our LINAC experts call 610.524.3300.

Purchasing Refurbished Medical Equipment

The purchase of refurbished equipment is now becoming a standard practice in the healthcare industry. With limited money, companies look at this option as a cost-reducing alternative to purchasing new equipment. However, buying used or refurbished medical devices isn't essentially a sacrifice on quality. In reality, the only major variations between latest and used medical devices are the price and the amount of time you've got to invest so as to hunt down a decent deal. When buying refurbished medical devices, you will be spared in around half of the price than compared to buying a new one. Pay for a brand new by buying refurbished instrumentality compared to purchasing it latest. Purchasing refurbished medical devices is extremely common among doctors establishing small practices.

How Refurbished Can Help

For every piece of the latest apparatus that's accessible to you in the market, you may be able to find something similar that is used, at a reduced value. These devices may range from refurbished IV poles to refurbished ultrasound machines, refurbished CT scanners to refurbished linear accelerators. Refurbished medical devices are pieces of equipment that virtually have been restored back to their brand-new condition, by highly skilled medical technicians, before being discharged back to the market. This means that whatever required fixing gets fixed, all used up previous components get replaced and, therefore, the refurbished devices can work just as well as other comparable new pieces of apparatus. If you opt for a refurbished medical instrument, you will realize that you can get a high-end device that is as functional and durable as its brand-new counterpart, for half the price.

Look Into Warranties

The best thing about buying brand new medical devices is that you’ve got the benefit of knowing precisely what you're paying for. Moreover, brand-new medical instruments additionally come with a factory warranty and, therefore, it makes you feel certain that the device will perform in a proper way for at least the mentioned amount of time. To counter this presumed disadvantage, look for warranties when purchasing refurbished equipment. This can involve doing a little research and taking a closer look at a number of the dealers since all refurbished medical instrument companies have their own policies on warranties and guarantees.

Taking The Extra Time to Research Will Be Worth It

However, if the additional time doing the research is worth the cash you save, shopping for refurbished medical equipment for your practice is definitely worthwhile. Although, before buying any refurbished device, always perform a background check on the company selling the refurbished devices before you make your final purchase. Gather information about their services and standards of quality and most importantly check out their client reviews.

Acceletronics is an independent refurbishment service providing company dedicated to delivering the best equipment performance and service reliability. From linear accelerators to CT scanners of all major brands and models, we provide complete and timely maintenance services for all medical equipment. Moreover, we can provide you with turnkey refurbished linear accelerators, refurbished CT scanners and other refurbished medical equipment, along with a proper warranty period for them without compromising on quality, in the most reasonable and affordable of prices. Therefore, if you are looking for maintenance services for medical devices or refurbished medical equipment anywhere across the US, we are your one stop shop.
Learn more about Acceletronics and their selection of new and refurbished linear accelerators and CT scanners today at http://www.acceletronics.com.  To contact one of our LINAC experts call 610.524.3300.

In Depth Look Into LINAC Systems

A linear accelerator (LINAC) is a device, which functions by customizing high energy x-rays or electrons, so as to conform to a tumor’s shape, destroy cancer cells and spare surrounding normal tissue. This improvement incorporates a lot of built-in safety measures to ascertain that higher dose than prescribed will not be delivered. Besides, there are routine checks that are usually carried out on this equipment by a certified medical physicist to confirm its proper working.

When a patient is scheduled for radiation therapy via LINAC, a radiation oncologist will work in conjunction with both a radiation dosimetrist and a medical physicist to get a treatment plan develop for him or her. This treatment plan is usually double checked by a doctor prior to treatment in order to sustain quality assurance procedures.

What is a LINAC used for?

A linear accelerator (LINAC) is a device which is often used for the treatment of external beam radiation for cancer patients. All parts or organs of the body is indicated with the LINAC as it delivers high energy x-rays or electrons to the location of the tumor in the patient’s body. LINAC ensures treatment by destroying the cancer cells and spares the surrounding normal tissue. All body sites can be treated via LINAC, using conventional techniques and other therapies like Stereotactic Body Radio Therapy (SBRT), Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT), Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) and Stereotactic

How LINAC systems work?

A linear accelerator employs micro wave technology for accelerating electrons in the wave guide a part of the accelerator. It achieves this by allowing collusion between these electrons and a heavy metal. The target is to produce high energy x-rays.
As the x-rays exit from the linear accelerator, they are made to conform to the shape of the patient’s tumor. The customized beam, which is incorporated into the head of the machine, is then directed to the tumor.

At this point, the patient is positioned on a moveable treatment couch while the beam diffuses from the gantry (a part of the linear accelerator) and it is being made to rotate round the patient. From any angle, the tumor can receive radiation when the gantry is rotated and the treatment couch is moved.

LINAC and Safety

There are several ways of ensuring a patient’s safety while using this equipment.  Prior to treating a patient, the radiation oncologist in conjunction with the radiation dosimetrist and medical physicist develop and approve a treatment plan.

Having double checked this treatment plan, treatments and quality assurance procedures are carried out to ensure that the treatment will be delivered as planned. It is highly essential to ensure quality assurance of the accelerator. It contains several built-in systems which ensure that it does not deliver a higher dose than the one prescribed.

As a safety measure, the radiation therapist inspects the machine every morning and ensures uniform radiation intensity across the beam. Besides, a more detailed and annual checks of the linear accelerator are carried out by the medical physicist.  The modern linear accelerators also have some internal checking systems which prevent the machine from being turned on until all prescribed treatment requirements are met.

As treatment continues, the patient is continuously observed by the radiation therapist via a closed- circuit television monitor. The patient will also be able to speak with the therapist if the need arises. In addition, pot films and cone beams are regularly inspected to prevent variation of the beam position from the original plan.

It is also crucial to ensure the safety of the staff that operates the linear accelerator. The linear accelerator is placed in a room reinforced with lead and concrete walls to shield the high-energy x-rays and ensures that the accelerator is turned on from outside the treatment room. In this case, accidental exposure risks are drastically low.

Acceletronics is an independent service company dedicated to delivering the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models. Learn more about Acceletronics and their selection of new and refurbished linear accelerators and CT scanners today at http://www.acceletronics.com.  To contact one of our LINAC experts call 610.524.3300.

The Process of Refurbishing Linear Accelerators

As you may have guessed, linear accelerators are widely sought after because of the vital role they play in human health. They provide treatment support for the notorious world disease called cancer. The high demand for linear accelerators also is the cause of its cost making it quite exorbitant that only a few can afford it. No wonder even some countries hardly boast of more than a unit while some have none. The machine saves lives, and since the cost of acquiring new ones may seem a no-go area for some, they find solace in refurbished linear accelerators to the widespread of the deadly cancer. The good news is it does not matter whether you buy new or refurbished linear accelerators, they all function like new.

Your decision to buy new or refurbished linear accelerators depends on your pocket and the urgency of needs. Anyone wanting refurbished accelerator needs to know that being a refurbished machine doesn’t mean its faulty or less in bad shape; it means any part that won’t allow it to function in pristine condition has been replaced. What you are getting is the same fully functional machine where the only difference is the amount you bought it.
To put your mind at rest, let’s briefly look at the processes of refurbishing linear accelerators to see why it is good as new.

Refurbished Linear Accelerators Process of Refurbishment

It should be soundly evident that refurbishing a linear accelerator is the job of highly competent engineers trained in the technology and who have experienced the working of oncology devices. It is also the key to buying refurbished oncology machine; engage only tested and trusted professionals in the field. By no means is this an all-comers affair; only experts who understand the working and technology of the device can recommend what is right or not.

The Process of Refurbishing LINAC Systems

• Expertise: Factory trained engineers, state of the art refurbishing facility. Refurbishing oncology devices need competent, factory trained engineers who will handle the replacement of the part in a refurbishing facility designed for the purpose. With this condition met, the following refurbishing process will commence.
• Precision Engineering: Every part of the device will undergo a rigorous functionality testing to determine which part is oaky and those needing replacing. A dose output beam testing is done to check flatness and symmetry and dosimetry system. This is followed by MLC AND Portal Vision operational and calibration testing.
• Cosmetic Process: After every part functionality testing is satisfactorily done the aesthetics of the equipment is then attended to for quality assurance and presentation. This covers the painting and couch facility for the patient.
• Shipment: Once the refurbished linear accelerator is ready, the next stage is shipment to convey it to its next host. On this step, detailed shipment inventory list is generated to ensure every item is accounted for and ready for delivery. The means of shipment, by air, land or sea is determined and arranged.
• Installation: The final journey to the host is accomplished and now ready for installation to commence operation.

Receiving The Qualified Personnel

Highly trained medical engineers and service personnel are used throughout the refurbishment process of LINAC systems. There is no gainsaying the machine is a complicated piece of equipment that needs the handling of the right experts to handle specific parts.

Acceletronics is an independent service company dedicated to delivering the best equipment performance and service reliability from Linear Accelerators and CT Scanners across all major brands and models. Learn more about Acceletronics and their selection of new and refurbished linear accelerators and CT scanners today at http://www.acceletronics.com.  To contact one of our LINAC experts call 610.524.3300.