ELEKTA AND MEDICAL INTELLIGENCE FORM INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTION PARTNERSHIP CREATING COMPLETE SOLUTIONS FOR STEREOTACTIC RADIATION TREATMENTS

Integrating key elements of MI’s radiotherapy and patient positioning systems into its own product portfolio, the agreement reinforces Elekta’s position as the world’s most comprehensive provider of complete solutions for stereotactic radiation treatment throughout the body. In addition to commercial distribution, the agreement includes plans for future product developments that will significantly advance the ability of clinical specialists to precisely and easily target tumor cells.Among the products from MI is HexaPOD™ RTC, an image guided robotic patient positioning system that allows for sub millimeter patient positioning with six degrees of freedom (6D). 6D means that the system can correct rotational errors in patient positioning as well as translational errors, making it ideal for the very high accuracy required for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT). HexaPOD will be available for use with all Elekta digital linear accelerator systems, but by integrating HexaPOD with Elekta Synergy® S for image-guided SRS and SRT, synergistic benefits will be created, enabling clinical staff to reliably and accurately position patients for treatment with a previously unattainable level of certainty. Elekta Synergy S includes X-ray volume imaging, the first system to allow three-dimensional imaging of the tumor and its surrounding soft tissues at the time of treatment. As Professor Frederik Wenz MD, of Mannheim Medical Center and University of Heidelberg, Germany, explains: “While X-ray volume imaging with Elekta Synergy® enables the detection of patient positioning errors in all areas of the body, MI’s HexaPOD and patient immobilization products make corrections of patient positioning in six degrees of freedom a clinical reality. Bringing these tools together is therefore a logical development that instantly creates a powerful system to reliably and easily perform detection and correction of positioning errors during critical radiation treatments.”In addition to positioning systems, Elekta will also distribute MI’s patient immobilization devices, complementing the company’s stereotactic experience. MI’s BodyFix®, for example, is one of the most accurate and comprehensive patient immobilization and positioning system available today. Summarizing the partnership with Elekta and the synergies achievable with the two product portfolios, Dr. Michael Vogele, CEO of MI said: “Medical Intelligence offers unique and innovative radiation oncology solutions in terms of automatic patient positioning with 6 degrees of freedom, improving clinical workflow and patient confidence. The strategic alliance with Elekta made so much sense for both companies; while MI enhances Elekta’s stereotactic portfolio, MI gains the strength needed to export our radiation therapy solutions to a broader worldwide customer base. In the end, however, it is the clinical specialists and patients themselves who will realize the greatest benefits from this partnership.”******