China expands access to cancer care with three Leksell Gamma Knife systems

Ian Alexander, Executive Vice President of Elekta’s Asia Pacific Region, says: “China is taking bold, positive steps to increase its citizens’ access to advanced medical techniques and technology. We’re proud to be part of the effort to deliver advanced cancer care to more people.” 

In a public tender for stereotactic radiosurgery systems by the Chinese Ministry of Healthcare, Elekta was awarded delivery of three systems. Elekta will deliver two Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ units and one Leksell Gamma Knife® 4C. 

Professor Jingqi Zhou, Director of the Radiotherapy department at Zhejiang Medical University Affiliated No.1 Hospital, says: "We anticipate becoming the first hospital to use the Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion with the Extend™ program in clinical treatment. It will allow us to serve and treat our patients with the high quality and efficiency proven by Elekta's global customer society. This applies not only to various neurofunctional diseases but also to widespread brain and neck metastases." 

With its large unmet need for cancer care, China continues to be one of Elekta’s fastest growing markets. As part of the government’s continuous investment in healthcare, China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) military hospitals purchased an array of cancer management solutions from Elekta earlier this year. These included radiation therapy treatment systems, as well as oncology information and treatment planning software. 

Examples of Elekta products and solutions booked in China in the calendar year 2010: 

• Leksell Gamma Knife® 4C and Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™. 
• Elekta Synergy®, an Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT) system that uses integrated 3D imaging technology. 
• Precise Treatment System™, a digital treatment system that provides a range of energy levels and exceptional beam characteristics for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT). 
• MOSAIQ®, Elekta’s image-enabled electronic medical record (EMR) for radiation oncology. 
• XiO®, a comprehensive 3D IMRT treatment planning platform that combines the latest tools and most robust dose calculation algorithms. 
• Focal™, a desktop PC-based distributed planning solution that provides a fully integrated platform with separate modules for image fusion, patient contouring, virtual simulation and plan review. 

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For further information, please contact:
Stina Thorman, Vice President Corporate Communications, Elekta AB
Tel: +46 8 587 254 37, +46 70 778 6010, email: stina.thorman@elekta.com

About Elekta
Elekta is a human care company pioneering significant innovations and clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders. The company develops sophisticated, state-of-the-art tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy and radiosurgery, as well as workflow enhancing software systems across the spectrum of cancer care.

Stretching the boundaries of science and technology, providing intelligent and resource-efficient solutions that offer confidence to both healthcare providers and patients, Elekta aims to improve, prolong and even save patient lives, making the future possible today.

Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 5,000 hospitals globally, and every day more than 100,000 patients receive diagnosis, treatment or follow-up with the help of a solution from the Elekta Group.

Elekta employs around 2,500 employees globally. The corporate headquarter is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. For more information about Elekta, please visit www.elekta.com.