RaySearch Laboratories AB and Nucletron BV have extended their existing collaboration with two new treatment planning solutions for radiation therapy. According to a new development and license agreement, RaySearch will develop software modules for Model-Based Segmentation (MBS) and treatment planning of Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT) for Oncentra® MasterPlan, Nucletron’s multimodality treatment planning system.
VMAT is a relatively new and advanced form of Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), in which the target is continuously irradiated while the source of the beam rotates around the patient in single or multiple arcs. This concept enables faster treatment delivery compared to traditional IMRT, where the patient is irradiated only from a few selected angles. At the same time, treatment quality remains similar or can be improved compared with traditional IMRT. The new VMAT treatment planning solution will be integrated in the Oncentra® Optimizer module of MasterPlan.
MBS facilitates the segmentation process when three-dimensional models of the tumor and surrounding organs at risk are created prior to the treatment planning process. Traditionally this is a very time-consuming task as the contours are outlined manually. The new Model-Based Segmentation software module uses three-dimensional organ models that automatically adapt to patient image data. Combined with highly intuitive interactive tools, this solution has the potential to significantly decrease the time spent on segmentation and also improve consistency in the process. The MBS solution will be integrated in the Oncentra® Anatomy module of MasterPlan and will be useful for treatment planning of both external radiation therapy and brachytherapy.
“Oncentra MasterPlan represents the latest generation of treatment planning solutions,” said Jos Lamers, chief executive officer of Nucletron. “With the addition of VMAT support as well as a new, time-saving method for semi-automatic target definition, we believe that Oncentra MasterPlan will secure its position as the most advanced linac-independent treatment planning system on the market. We are pleased to see that our strategic collaboration with RaySearch continues to provide radiation oncology with new and exciting functionality that will improve patient care”.
”We are fully committed to our strategic collaboration with Nucletron and this agreement further underlines the importance of our partnership,” adds Johan Löf, president of RaySearch.
“We are very proud of our VMAT solution and believe that it will be a powerful complement to Nucletron’s treatment planning system. We are also excited by the market introduction of our advanced MBS solution. Since MBS is useful both in external radiation therapy, as well as brachytherapy, this will be the first time that RaySearch can deliver a powerful product to the brachytherapy community”.
Both products are scheduled to be released in 2009.
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