Unity MR-Linac

2023: Product Announcement

At the end of February 2023, the Swedish company Elekta introduced the Unity MR-Linac device for cancer treatment, which calculates tumor movement in real time.

Cancer and brain technology company Elekta announced that the FDA has authorized comprehensive motion management (CMM) with true tracking and automatic gating. These functions are part of Elekta's Unity MR-Linac radiotherapy system. The updated features allow the Unity MR-Linac system to continuously calculate tumor movement anywhere in the body and automatically account for it.

Unity MR-Linac

According to the developers of the device, with the help of CMM, it is possible to better control the treatment of targets that are susceptible to either periodic respiratory movement or random movements. For example, patients do not need to hold their breath during treatment, which can be difficult. Built-in prediction algorithms compensate for any system delays, further improving respiratory control. In addition, physicians with CMM can quickly move the beam to account for systematic changes in target position that may occur during a treatment session. They can do this without re-imaging, which helps save time.

We believe that MR-directed therapy will play an important role in radiotherapy in the future. This is evidenced by a large network of hospitals in New Jersey, which is installing three Elekta Unity systems as of February 2023, in addition to more than 100 systems ordered or used in the United States and around the world! Improving beam delivery accuracy is key to increasing the therapeutic window in radiotherapy, Dr. Lorraine Portelans said in a news release from Elekta.

The treatment of primary brain cancer is mainly carried out by surgical method. Neuronavigation increases by 50%, helps to recognize better zones. The treatment of a brain tumor depends on the size of the neoplasm, its location and the stage of neoplasm development. According to the medical journal Massdevice, treatment on a linear accelerator is carried out on the Elekta Synergy apparatus, the device works on the principle of constant control of dose accuracy, protection against irradiation of healthy tissues.^[1]

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