ELEKTA SELECTED TO SUPPLY ADVANCED RADIATION THERAPY CAPABILITY TO GREECE’S LARGEST PRIVATE HOSPITAL
PRESS RELEASE
Stockholm, Sweden, September 26, 2007
Elekta, a world leader in advanced radiation therapy and radiosurgery has been awarded a Contract by the Diagnostic and Therapeutic Center of Athens – HYGEIA S.A. – to supply and install three linear accelerator systems, including one Elekta Axesse™ stereotactic image guided treatment system, a comprehensive network and information management system and a long-term service contract. The Contract is valued at over EUR 8 M.
HYGEIA, founded in 1970, is among the largest private hospitals in Greece having nearly 400 beds. By replacing the older equipment, the new systems will significantly enhance the capacity for performing advanced radiation therapy in the country.
Since 2004, HYGEIA hospital has been using Leksell Gamma Knife for radiosurgical treatment of brain tumors and other brain disorders. The Gamma Knife center has been a great success, and has contributed to establishing the hospital as the leading radiosurgery center in Greece. Drawing on these experiences HYGEIA now invests to expand it’s capability to perform high-precision radiosurgical treatments throughout the body.
One of the three Elekta systems to be installed at HYGEIA, beginning in November 2007, is Elekta Axesse™. This system provides a comprehensive and integrated solution to effectively apply image guided stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic radiation therapy (SRT). Elekta Axesse™ offers clinicians the ability to deliver higher and more conformal doses of radiation to the target in fewer fractions than with conventional radiation therapy techniques by combining 3D X-ray volume image guidance at the time of treatment with highly conformal beam shaping and robotic 6D sub-millimeter patient positioning to deliver fast, efficient and accurate treatment. All treatment processes from planning to delivery are controlled from a single unified workstation supported by an electronic medical record (EMR) centered workflow.
Complementing Elekta Axesse, HYGEIA will also install Elekta Synergy® for intensity modulated and image guided radiation therapy (IMRT and IGRT), allowing clinicians to visualize the target, as well as surrounding anatomy and organs, at the time of treatment as a three dimensional volume. The result is unmatched clinical confidence in radiation therapy, enabling more aggressive treatment of tumors while minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.
The Administrator of HYGEIA Hospital, Mr. Anthony Rapp comments, “After a thorough evaluation of available technology as well as local support capability, it became obvious to us that the comprehensive package from Elekta could best meet our demanding clinical requirements. HYGEIA is the leading radiation therapy hospital in Greece and with the Elekta Axesse and Elekta Synergy treatment systems, we will be able to provide more advanced treatments to the benefit of patients from all of Greece. We are also looking forward to participating in the Elekta Axesse Society and contributing to the further enhancement of stereotactic radiation methods and techniques.”
Elekta’s Business Unit Manager for Greece, Mr. John Grant states, “Elekta is proud to have been chosen as a clinical partner in the most ambitious radiation therapy project ever in the country. Just like their colleagues in other parts of the world, clinicians in Greece have been impressed by the unique capabilities offered by Elekta Axesse and Elekta Synergy.” In closing he added, “Committed to a strong local presence in the country, Elekta is very well positioned to support Greek healthcare providers improve capacity and capability in radiation therapy”.
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