September 23, 2011 — Bionix Radiation Therapy announced the addition of Breath Hold, an interactive breath hold control monitoring system from MedSpira, as an accessory to its Omni V Patient Positioning System. Developed by Mayo Clinic physicians, it is a user-friendly system enabling patients to easily and consistently reproduce a breath-hold reference point consistent breathing pattern. This consistency is ideal for stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) procedures involving the lungs and upper abdomen.
SBRT delivers a high dose of radiation to patients in fewer fractions than conventional delivery methods. Patient indexing and monitoring is crucial to maximize adherence to the treatment plan. Breath Hold combined with the Omni V will allow radiation therapy facilities to provide a more accurate setup and treatment outcome for their patients.
The device is an expandable bellows system that works by providing feedback to patients about their respiration. A pressure sensitive transducer tube is wrapped around the patient’s chest or belly. During the treatment, patients watch an LED monitor, which displays their breathing pattern through a series of lights. A reference point, typically either an inhale or exhale, is selected. After the point is chosen, the center light communicates it to the patient. Additional lights visually alert the patient when they are beyond their desired range.
Both devices will be featured this year at the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) 2011 conference, Oct. 2-4 at Miami Beach Convention Center.
For more information: www.bionixrt.com