Today proton therapy is more popular than ever before. Most major population hubs in the U.S. either have a proton center, are building one, or are thinking about building one. Choosing the right patient positioning laser system to use in a proton therapy center is key to delivering the most accurate and precise treatment possible.
Our recent Refurbished Medical Equipment Survey results indicate a trend that we have been seeing for some time now. More and more hospitals and clinics in the United States are opting to trade in their used equipment to OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), rather than selling them outright in the open market.
Let’s face it. For many hospitals, trading in equipment is a much easier process than selling or consigning a machine. Just like trading in a car when you buy or lease a new one, you let the Seller take care of the headaches. After all, isn’t one transaction a lot easier than two? Selling equipment often involves dealing with multiple buyers, the headaches of not knowing the professionalism and reputation of each, and that can put you and your facility at risk. So why deal with all the hassle?
Is your facility considering selling or replacing diagnostic imaging or radiation therapy equipment? There are several options to choose from. We have highlighted the “pros” and “cons” of each.
The Project Management Team at Radiology Oncology Systems (known as R.O.S. for short) recently completed a major project involving installation of a refurbished Elekta Synergy linear accelerator system at a major public institution in Australia. Such an installation generally takes between eight to twelve weeks. In this case, ROS’s team provided an “expedited installation” and completed the work in just under four weeks.
Tommy Hughes, Sr. Manager, Field Operations at ROS, stated, “we received full acceptance to OEM standards by the facility’s physics & medical staff in under four weeks—this is a record for our company, and a big accomplishment for our team”.
In 2013, a survey was conducted among medical physicists and published on the Global Medical Physics list server. The survey asked physicists which higher photon energy is preferred, primarily between 10MV, 12MV, 15MV and 18MV.
All linear accelerators manufactured today include the 6MV photon energy, which is the most widely used energy for performing IMRT. However, higher photon energy options exist, and the selection can often be confusing.
Who better to ask than the medical physics community? The results, we found, were surprising. Given the choice to alter the energy pairs on their linear accelerators, physicists chose 10MV as the preferred second energy.
When is purchasing a used linear accelerator a good idea?
Purchasing a used linear accelerator system is not recommended for every facility. New equipment is often a better solution for many customers. If your center requires the latest technology available in the market today, or if you are planning on installing a machine that will not be replaced for a longer period of time (at least in the next 10-15 years) then a brand new machine, or an almost-new machine, is often the better choice.
Many radiation oncology centers often struggle with the idea of new vs. used equipment.
The Varian iX linear accelerator (LINAC) provides targeted treatment for your oncology patients. This advanced model is capable of disrupting cancer cells without harming the surrounding normal tissue. It features tumor-targeting technology that can be used on any area of the body appropriate for radiation therapy. In addition, it offers versatile imaging options that help clinicians better care for their patients with both short-term and long-term treatments. It has the ability to receive future upgrades to stay on top of cutting-edge technology, and with a variety of patient treatment options, it’s a smart investment for dynamic health care providers. This state-of-the-art linear accelerator is available as a pre-owned system from Radiology Oncology Systems. This particular Varian iX unit has been meticulously inspected to ensure it meets manufacturer’s specifications. This ensures that the equipment functions reliably and continues to provide high-quality radiation treatment for every patient. This iX model was manufactured in 2012 and is the newest Varian iX currently on the secondary market.
The CYRPA™ patient positioning system provides accuracy without compromise. It delivers precision of ±0.1 mm, which is unsurpassed in positioning lasers.
Key features of CYRPA lasers include:
CYRPA patient positioning laser systems are ideally suited for radiation therapy centers seeking sub-millimeter accuracy to complement state-of-the-art, SRS and SBRT linear accelerator and CT simulation systems.
To determine if CYRPA is a good fit for your radiation oncology department, submit this short form and one of our specialists will be in touch.
When the time has come to depart with your Diagnostic Imaging or Radiation Therapy equipment, you will be faced with several options: selling, consigning, removing & disposing, trade-in or auction. The pros and cons of each option are examined more closely in our Seller’s Guide, along with additional tips to maximize the value of your used equipment.
Varian Clinac Series Low Energy Machine Models: 6/100, 600C, 600C/D, 6EX
Varian Clinac Series High Energy Machine Models: 2100C, 2100C/D, 2300C/D, 21EX, 23EX, 21iX
For many years, cobalt-60 systems were the equipment of choice for radiation therapy in developing regions of the world. Cobalt systems are still a good option today, according to the IAEA, in areas of the world where linear accelerators are not an option due to power requirements, servicing capabilities and humidity concerns.
Over the past two decades, used/refurbished linear accelerators have become a viable option to replace cobalt-60 systems, as costs of pre-owned linear accelerators have decreased. Over the past decade, ROS has delivered and installed dozens of refurbished linear accelerators in countries all over the world, many as replacements for older cobalt machines. Most of the equipment has originated from developed countries including the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Holland, Sweden, Australia and Taiwan.
