April 16, 2007 - Accuray Inc. recently announced that it has signed a co-marketing and distribution agreement with Siemens Medical Solutions , enabling Accuray to integrate its CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery system and RoboCouch patient positioning system with a Siemens SOMATOM computed tomography (CT) scanner, reportedly enhancing visibility of internal structures at the time of treatment.
The clinical advantages of the in-room diagnostic CT system are reportedly utilized mainly in the treatment of tumors that move with respiration, such as lung, liver and pancreas, as well as prostate tumors, which are impacted by bowel and bladder function.
In the treatment of prostate tumors, this enhanced ability reportedly allows for visualization of physiological changes like rectal or bladder filling, to ensure the organs have not moved into the treatment field since the preliminary planning CT. Additionally, for tumors that move with respiration, the addition of in-room 4-D CT is said to help account for tumor motion and deformation between the planning CT and the CT on the day of treatment.