Japanese approval of Elekta’s Extend system allows more patients to be treated
TOKYO, Japan, April 2, 2013 – Elekta’s Japanese office, Elekta K.K., announced today that Elekta’s Extend™ system for multi-session stereotactic radiosurgery has been approved by the Japanese Health Authority. Extend makes it possible to treat indications that were previously untreatable with Gamma Knife® surgery. The ability to treat a broader range of targets and more challenging cases allows even more patients to benefit from Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion™ equipped with Extend.
Professor Masahiro Hiraoka of the Department of Radiation Oncology and Image-Applied Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, says: “Gamma Knife surgery is a highly accurate form of radiotherapy used in many overseas countries, as well as Japan. Historically, its use has been limited to single-session radiosurgery, sometimes making it impractical for treating tumors larger than 3 cm in diameter. The Extend system enables fractionated treatments while maintaining precision. This increases the indications we are able to treat, which allows us to care for a broader range of patients. Extend bridges stereotactic radiosurgery and stereotactic radiotherapy, bringing its cross-functional advantages to both neurosurgeons and radiation oncologists.”
“We are delighted that Extend is now available in Japan,” says Tim Rooney, President and Managing Director of Elekta K.K. of Elekta. “Clinicians here will now be able to expand the versatility of their Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion system through multi-session radiosurgery. This technology will enable treatment of lesions immediately adjacent to critical structures, such as the eye, in addition to targets that are simply too large for just one radiosurgery session.”
Since its introduction in Japan in 1991, until the end of 2011, Leksell Gamma Knife has been used to treat approximately 173,000 patients. Through Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion and its product line, Elekta intends to provide a wide range of high-quality treatment options and to continue to contribute to the field of radiotherapy.
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For further information, please contact:
Elekta KK Neuroscience
Tel: +81-3-6722-3812
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, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, 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.
Today, Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 6,000 hospitals worldwide. Elekta employs around 3,400 employees globally. The corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden, and the company is listed on the Nordic Exchange under the ticker EKTAb. Website: www.elekta.com.