Siemens Healthineers Introduces Accela Radiotherapy Solution

Siemens Healthineers has unveiled Accela, a notable advancement in radiotherapy technology that features the innovative NeoArc dynamic modulated arc therapy (DMAT), is designed to improve the precision and speed of radiotherapy treatments, offering potential benefits for cancer centers managing complex patient cases.

Accela significantly enhances treatment through capabilities that allow stereotactic treatments during a single breath-hold and facilitate multi-site stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) within 60 seconds. This reduces time on the treatment table, potentially improving the overall patient experience and treatment efficiency.

Central to Accela is advanced AI-driven planning software that optimizes both plan quality and delivery speed for clinicians. Integral features of Accela include the HyperSight cone-beam CT imaging panel, a redesigned multi-leaf collimator, rapid gantry rotations at 2.5 RPM, and high dose rates of up to 40 Gy/min. Additionally, the system supports a new eight-megavolt flattening filter-free energy setting, enhancing its versatility and effectiveness.

Commenting on the launch, Dee Khuntia, MD, chief medical officer at Varian, Siemens Healthineers' cancer-care division, noted, "Accela is the kind of leap our field doesn't see often. It's faster, it's built on a fundamentally modern architecture, and it introduces a generational shift in treatment planning. But what excites me most is its potential to alter the biological response to radiotherapy. That's not incremental progress; it's a new chapter."

For healthcare providers grappling with the complexities of rising cancer incidence and staff shortages, Accela promises to expand radiotherapy options, streamline workflows, and enhance the experience for both patients and clinicians. The development of Accela was informed through close collaboration with leading cancer-research institutions, including the Mayo Clinic, Washington University School of Medicine, the Siteman Cancer Center, and others.

Arthur Kaindl, head of Varian, emphasized, "Today’s announcement shows a level of innovation in radiotherapy only Siemens Healthineers can deliver. It stands on a foundation that took decades to build: a global imaging business, our radiation-oncology installed base, mature AI and software, and long-term clinical relationships."