AVONDALE, PA, 31 July 2012 – Qfix (www.Qfix.com), a world leader in radiotherapy patient positioning devices, today announced the first successful installation of the SDX Automatic Gating Module with Varian’s Clinac® iX Linear Accelerator using Varian’s Motion Management Interface (MMI) in Avignon, France. Until now, the SDX System using the voluntary deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH) technique to manage thoracic and abdominal tumor motion has only permitted the treatment beam to be manually operated.
With the introduction of the new Automatic Gating Module, the SDX System now integrates respiratory gating with radiotherapy treatment with Varian’s Clinac®and Trilogy®platforms. This advancement allows the SDX System to automatically define beam-on and beam-off periods that are synchronized with a patient’s voluntary breath hold. The SDX™ Automatic Gating Module also allows treatment beams to be more accurately directed to the tumor, potentially sparing healthy tissue and organs.
Future developments will include the expansion of the automatic respiratory gating system to a variety of primary radiotherapy treatment systems. These advancements will also pave the way for respiratory gating during a patient’s normal, free breathing pattern. “With the launch of the SDX Automatic Gating Module, there is a great opportunity to make significant breakthroughs in respiratory-gated treatment techniques,”commented Robin Garcia, PhD from Saint Catherine Institute in Avignon, France. “The SDX System will open new combination between modulated irradiation (VMAT) and breathing control in a safe way.”
The SDX™Spirometric Motion Management System has CE approval, FDA clearance and Health Canada Licensing. Currently the SDX™ Automatic Gating Module has CE approval and is pending 510(k); not available for sale within the United States.
About SDX™Spirometric Motion Management System
The SDX™ is a voluntary breath hold system for managing thoracic and abdominal tumor motion during radiotherapy. The system uses a spirometer to monitor patient breathing in real time. When paired with voluntary deep inspiration breath hold (DIBH), the SDX&tarde;System can suppress tumor motion, decrease treatment margins and reduce toxicity to vital organs such as the lung, heart and liver. SDX™ is a trademark of Dyn’R, SAS, France.
About Qfix
Qfix, headquartered in Avondale, PA, is a world leader in the design, manufacturing and marketing of radiotherapy patient positioning and immobilization products. For more information about Qfix please visit www.Qfix.com.