University Medical Center Groningen treats patients with RayStation feature Plan Explorer
UMC Groningen (UMCG) has started treating patients using the treatment planning system (TPS) RayStation's feature Plan Explorer. The center utilizes Plan Explorer for prostate cases, using VMAT. So far, approximately 60 patients have been treated.
UMCG has been a RaySearch-client since 2013 and use RayStation as their main TPS for external beam proton and photon radiotherapy. The RayStation installation at the center includes adaptive radiation therapy, multi-criteria optimization and radiobiology, in complement to the Plan Explorer feature. The center is also equipped with 9 Elekta-linacs and an IBA Proteus® Plus with two gantry rooms.
Since becoming a customer, the center has been closely involved with development in the RaySearch headquarters in Stockholm, Sweden. UMCG and RaySearch currently have a research collaboration about Plan Explorer, and the center is also a clinical collaboration partner in the development of the next oncology information system RayCare*.
RayStation's Plan Explorer automatically generates a large number of high-quality treatment plan alternatives, saving time and giving the clinician a wide range of options to consider. UMCG has done research for prostate and head-and-neck-cases. The automatic plans generated at UMCG has been of good quality and time saving in comparison to manual planning.
Roel Kierkels, Medical physicist at UMCG, says: “Early this year we implemented Plan Explorer which substantially reduced the time we spend on treatment planning. We now spend less than 45 minutes per plan, whereas manual planning took around 180 minutes. Since Plan Explorer creates the plans fully automatically in the background, we have the possibility to spend more time on other emerging technological developments in our department, such as adaptive radiotherapy and proton therapy."
Johan Löf, CEO of RaySearch, says: “We are glad to see that UMCG uses the RayStation feature Plan Explorer for their prostate cases. The time that auto planning saves at UMCG, can be used to further improve their cancer treatments.”
About UMCG
UMCG is one of the largest hospitals in the Netherlands. More than 12,000 employees provide patient care, are involved in medical education and perform cutting-edge scientific research, focused on “healthy and active ageing”. Research and education at UMCG are funded through the University of Groningen, and the Faculty of Medical Sciences functions as an integral part of the University.
About RayCare
RayCare represents the future of OIS technology, developed from the ground up by RaySearch to support the complex logistical challenges of modern, large-scale radiation therapy centers. RayCare will integrate the high-performance radiation therapy algorithms available in RayStation with advanced features for clinical resource optimization, workflow automation and adaptive radiation therapy.
About RayStation
RayStation integrates all RaySearch’s advanced treatment planning solutions into a flexible treatment planning system. It combines unique features such as multi-criteria optimization tools with full support for 4D adaptive radiation therapy. It also includes functionality such as RaySearch’s market-leading algorithms for IMRT and VMAT optimization and highly accurate dose engines for photon, electron, proton and carbon ion therapy. The system is built on the latest software architecture and features a graphical user interface with state-of-the-art usability.
About RaySearch
RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ) is a medical technology company that develops innovative software solutions for improved cancer treatment. RaySearch markets the RayStation treatment planning system and the RayCare oncology information system to clinics all over the world and distributes products through licensing agreements with leading medical technology companies. RaySearch’s software is used by over 2,600 clinics in more than 65 countries. The company was founded in 2000 as a spin-off from Karolinska Institute in Stockholm and the share has been listed on Nasdaq Stockholm since 2003.
More information about RaySearch is available at www.raysearchlabs.com
* Subject to regulatory clearance in some markets.
For further information, please contact:
Johan Löf, President and CEO, RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ)
Telephone: +46 (0)8-510 530 00
Peter Thysell, CFO, RaySearch Laboratories AB (publ)
Telephone: +46 (0)70 661 05 59
peter.thysell@raysearchlabs.com
