Frost & Sullivan Recognizes TomoTherapy Incorporated
San Francisco, CA – Frost & Sullivan will present TomoTherapy Incorporated with the 2005 Radiotherapy Solutions Excellence in Technology Award at tonight’s 2nd annual Excellence in Medical Devices and Healthcare Awards Banquet. TomoTherapy’s revolutionary Hi·Art System delivers image-guided, intensity modulated radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer. As a result, the Company is rapidly transforming the field of radiation therapy.
“TomoTherapy is honored to receive this distinctive award,” said Dr. Fred Robertson, TomoTherapy’s Chief Executive Officer. “It is validation that the industry is recognizing our game-changing technology and the impact we are having on the future of radiation therapy. We strive to fulfill our mission to improve the lives of cancer patients.”
The TomoTherapy Hi·Art System® is a hallmark technology that combines treatment planning, patient positioning, and treatment delivery into one system, in order to deliver precise treatment doses while limiting radiation exposure to healthy tissue. The system delivers radiation from every point on the helix from its ring gantry in about the same time as the conventional IMRT. The company recently achieved another critical milestone, receiving 510(k) clearance from the FDA for its new Adaptive Dose option which in combination with its image module allows the user to track treatment process responses on a daily basis.
Radiation therapy is a common and effective form of treatment for most types of cancer, and is often used in combination with other forms of treatment such as chemotherapy. Despite its efficacy in eliminating cancerous cells and preventing the disease from spreading, radiation therapy can also destroy healthy cells surrounding the target being treated, potentially leading to undesirable side effects. To address this concern and to minimize side effects, the concept of IMRT (Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy) was developed.
TomoTherapy has taken IMRT one step further by introducing image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT). The Hi·Art System uses an integrated CT (Computer Tomography) system with sophisticated software to correctly identify and locate the treatment site prior to treatment. This single feature ensures that the prescribed radiation is focused on the tumor while minimizing radiation doses to healthy tissues. The daily CT images also help clinicians monitor the treatment site for motion and/or changes in shape during the course of radiation.
“In IMRT, physical parameters such as size, shape, and strength of the radiation beam are changed to focus on the tumor and to kill cancer cells while sparing the surrounding healthy tissues as much as possible,” explains Frost & Sullivan industry analyst Giridhar Rao. “In comparison to traditional radiotherapy, the Hi·Art System combines a sophisticated multileaf collimator (MLC) with a unique helical delivery pattern to deliver precise radiation at the target site.”
The TomoTherapy Hi·Art System® gained 510(k) clearance from the FDA in 2002, and has since received approval to sell product in Canada, Japan, and the European Union. The Company also has created an impressive intellectual property portfolio.
Frost & Sullivan presents its Excellence in Technology of the Year Award to the company that has pioneered the development and introduction of an innovative technology into the market that either has impacted or has the potential to impact several market sectors. This Award recognizes TomoTherapy Incorporated’s successful technical innovation that is expected to bring significant contributions to the industry in terms of adoption, change, and competitive posture. It also recognizes the overall technical excellence of the company and its commitment to technology innovation. TomoTherapy has consistently been working toward elevating patient care and enhancing treatment.
Held in San Francisco, Calif., Frost & Sullivan’s 2005 Excellence in Medical Devices and Healthcare Awards Banquet honors world-class companies for outstanding performance and achievements in the medical devices industry. An annual event, the banquet recognizes the quality and merit of distinguished individuals and companies.
About Frost & Sullivan
Frost & Sullivan, a global growth consulting company founded in 1961, partners with clients to create value through innovative growth strategies. The foundation of this partnership approach is our Growth Partnership Services platform, whereby we provide industry research, marketing strategies, consulting and training to our clients to help grow their business. A key benefit that Frost & Sullivan brings to its clients is a global perspective on a broad range of industries, markets, technologies, econometrics, and demographics. With a client list that includes Global 1000 companies, emerging companies, as well as the investment community, Frost & Sullivan has evolved into one of the premier growth consulting companies in the world. For more information, visit www.frost.com.
16 Mar 2005
