Radiotherapy works by targeting high-energy gamma ray or electron beam onto cancer cells, which are more prone to radiation damage than the normal tissues. Linear accelerators are usually multi-modality ionizing radiation generators with associated imaging devices, currently used for delivery of external beam radiotherapy.
The contemporary linear accelerators provide either 6 MeV photons in the "low energy" range machines, or dual/triple photon energy and several electron energies.
The following systems are incorporated into the linear accelerators: multileaf collimator (MLC) for beam shaping, capability to deliver intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) and a 3D image guidance system (IGRT). The linear accelerator also provides an electronic portal imaging system for imaging treatment beams.
Other additional features may be incorporated into the linear accelerators, such as: arc-based IMRT Delivery, total body irradiation, high-dose rate electrons, etc.
Despite the high capital cost of purchasing linear accelerators, their high patient throughput over a long lifespan makes them extremely cost–effective compared with the other treatment options.
The operation of linear accelerators should be according to the existing standards and regulations which include: IEC standards, radiation regulations, guidelines for radio therapy room design, etc.
Technical Considerations
The technology used in conventional linear accelerators is essentially the same for all linear accelerators. The high energy generation can be achieved either by implementing the "traveling waveguide technology" or by implementing the "standing waveguide technology". The first approach is simpler and very reliable, while the second approach features a more stable treatment beam. The generated radiation beam is flattened and shaped using collimation devices to form a beam matching the shape of the tumor. The wave guide, the filters and the collimator are mounted on a gantry which rotates around the patient, allowing the tumor to be irradiated from multiple directions. There is a linear accelerators patient coach especially designed to allow irradiation of the patient from multiple directions.
Modern linear accelerators are designed to enable intensity- modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). This is a dynamic radiotherapy delivery method which enables good control over the three-dimensional dose distribution: the delivered beam instead of being flat, changes the intensity at different points within the beam.
There are different types of linear accelerator IMRT delivery methods:
•Step and shoot method: this method consists of delivering a series of different shape fields formed by the MLC to build up a variable intensity pattern. The irradiation is stopped between each field.
•Dynamic MLC methods: in which the radiation runs constant, while the MLC leaves move across the field at variable speeds.
•Arc therapy methods: in which the radiation runs continuously and the gantry collimators and MLC leaves are all moving continuously. The dose rate also varies during the delivery. Treatments are delivered in an arc (or sometimes in two arcs). This is probably the best choice for IMRT.
The multileaf collimator is a delicate computer-controlled mechanism. The performance of the collimator depends on its resolution, the leakage radiation and the system penumbra.
The electronic portal imaging device allows verification of patient position on orthogonal two-dimensional images produced by the high-energy treatment beam. The detector used for the portal imaging consists of an amorphous silicon indirect detection flat panel imager.
The imager systems differ in the degree of complexity of software provided, as well as the ease of use.
The linear accelerators’ three-dimensional imaging systems can be materialized in three different ways:
1.Applying diagnostic x-ray cone beam, in plain or orthogonal to the linear accelerators’ high energy beam.
2.Using the high-energy treatment cone beam of the linear accelerator.
3.Using a CT machine combined with the linear accelerator.
Photons and Electron Energies
Typically, x-ray energies of 6 MeV are used for head and neck, breast and lung radiation. Abdominal treatments usually utilize 10 MeV x-ray. Large patients may require higher x-ray energies.
Electrons are usually required in the 6-15 MeV range. The total skin electron treatments require 4 MeV electrons.
Record and Verify Systems
In modern radiotherapy departments, the linear accelerators are operated using record and verify systems, which deliver the treatments, as well as make a record of them.
These systems are usually connected to the general information network, which allow a wide functionality, including booking and scheduling, recording of patient notes, recording costs, image handling etc.
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About MedWOW
MedWOW is THE multilingual online marketplace for trading medical equipment and connecting buyers and sellers globally.
Hundreds of thousands of complete systems, parts, accessories, and medical supplies are posted for sale and auction!
The user-friendly, international website connects buyers, sellers and service providers of medical equipment from all over the world by offering: comprehensive professional services, unprecedented reliability, multilingual customer support and top value.
Hundreds of thousands of complete systems, parts, accessories, and medical supplies are posted for sale and auction!
The user-friendly, international website connects buyers, sellers and service providers of medical equipment from all over the world by offering: comprehensive professional services, unprecedented reliability, multilingual customer support and top value.
MedWOW Meets the Challenge: Worldwide Belt-Tightening Strengthens the Used Medical Equipment Market
The international financial crisis has caused hospitals, medical, dental and veterinary clinics and other healthcare facilities to find creative solutions to maintaining and upgrading their medical equipment and devices, while keeping within the confines of their dwindling budgetary constraints. MedWOW.com, the leading global online marketplace for new and used medical equipment, was created to assist facilities with the purchase and sales of everything ranging from one device to the entire inventory of a hospital.
The MedWOW team has found that the demand for used medical devices is increasing steadily as many organizations are interested in upgrading their equipment; while others are closing and are being forced to sell off their inventories. In all situations, MedWOW is committed to making the transition as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Upgrades are accomplished through buying used and refurbished high-end equipment such as MRI’s, CT scanners, ambulances and ultrasound machines. MedWOW has also found that dental and veterinary sales are increasing, as spending power is maximized by buying less expensive, pre-owned equipment in good condition. With no immediate change in the economy on the horizon, MedWOW is showing thousands of institutions that it is possible to purchase excellent equipment with just the deatures they require, at a fraction of the cost it would cost them to buy newer devices.
MedWOW's value-added services are available 24/7 to assist people in their selling and buying, without compromising on quality or buying unneeded features. Rather than spending unnecessary hours searching online classified ads for the wanted medical equipment, MedWOW does it for you: saving you valuable time and money. MedWOW's multilingual sales and marketing staff is constantly upgrading their services, based on the feedback received from their thousands of customers. MedWOW's catalog consists of over 150,000 items of pre-owned and new medical devices (including complete systems, parts, and accessories); giving medical institutions access to medical equipment and special deals they may have otherwise not known about. Additionally, MedWOW’s international existence empowers facilities to profit by selling their existing equipment to institutions from all over the world, where it is crucial to acquire reliable equipment and it is not readily available without MedWOW's intervention.
The MedWOW team has found that the demand for used medical devices is increasing steadily as many organizations are interested in upgrading their equipment; while others are closing and are being forced to sell off their inventories. In all situations, MedWOW is committed to making the transition as comfortable and stress-free as possible. Upgrades are accomplished through buying used and refurbished high-end equipment such as MRI’s, CT scanners, ambulances and ultrasound machines. MedWOW has also found that dental and veterinary sales are increasing, as spending power is maximized by buying less expensive, pre-owned equipment in good condition. With no immediate change in the economy on the horizon, MedWOW is showing thousands of institutions that it is possible to purchase excellent equipment with just the deatures they require, at a fraction of the cost it would cost them to buy newer devices.
MedWOW's value-added services are available 24/7 to assist people in their selling and buying, without compromising on quality or buying unneeded features. Rather than spending unnecessary hours searching online classified ads for the wanted medical equipment, MedWOW does it for you: saving you valuable time and money. MedWOW's multilingual sales and marketing staff is constantly upgrading their services, based on the feedback received from their thousands of customers. MedWOW's catalog consists of over 150,000 items of pre-owned and new medical devices (including complete systems, parts, and accessories); giving medical institutions access to medical equipment and special deals they may have otherwise not known about. Additionally, MedWOW’s international existence empowers facilities to profit by selling their existing equipment to institutions from all over the world, where it is crucial to acquire reliable equipment and it is not readily available without MedWOW's intervention.
Buying and Selling Brand New Medical Equipment Online
In today’s competitive market, sellers of brand new medical equipment often need to diversify into various marketing channels to get optimal exposure for their brands and items. These sellers cannot simply rely on corporate websites, or traditional advertising vehicles to increase sales. While these vehicles are an excellent way of reinforcing brand presence and awareness, often a more proactive approach is necessary when it comes to increasing the sales of brand new medical equipment.
One effective method to boost sales is targeting consumers while they are already shopping. In today’s day and age, many consumers have gone online for their medical equipment needs, particularly to ecommerce marketplaces. The reason for this shift is due to the simplicity and accessibility that these online marketplaces offer to consumers that are in the medical equipment market. Similarly, unlike offline vendors, ecommerce marketplaces typically offer a wide range of options by operating “one-stop-shop” platforms that are convenient for buyers and sellers alike.
MedWOW.com, a global online marketplace for medical equipment, has recently seen an increasing demand for a platform that would enable the buying and selling of Brand New Medical Equipment. In response to this overwhelming demand, the site - which until a short time ago was only geared at the pre-owned medical equipment market, recently launched the capability of listing brand new medical equipment.
Brand new listings are posted using MedWOW’s sophisticated search engine and large medical equipment catalog, with over 30,000 devices (Increasing daily). These listings appear over a different background and border color, which make them stand out from other listings on the site. Additionally, each brand new item listing contains the seller’s logo, company name, contact details, and link to the item’s page on the seller’s website.
This new addition offers companies selling brand new medical equipment the opportunity to expand sales to international markets, since MedWOW is completely multilingual in 5 international languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, and Arabic.
Learn more about Posting Brand New Medical Equipment on MedWOW
Find the True Market Value of Used Medical Equipment
If you have ever been interested in purchasing a used car, then you probably know how essential it is to check the market value for the specific vehicle model, in which you are interested. Since most people buy used cars due to economical considerations, it would be a rather uncalculated decision to go into a purchase blindly without having any background knowledge of market values. The same applies for the used medical equipment market. However, unlike the used car industry, market values in the used medical equipment industry are not so easily-accessible.
With the need for used medical equipment on the rise, there are endless options for medical institutions to choose from on the market. Although used equipment is a more cost-effective solution, health institutions must be clued-in with the price depreciation rates for every device that they are looking into, which can vary greatly from device to device and is not always very easily accessible. Nevertheless, the knowledge of such information is essential as it can prevent buyers from being overcharged by sellers, gives them greater negotiation leverage, and keeps their already limited capital free for other expenses.
MedWOW.com, a leading global marketplace for pre-owned medical equipment has realized the need that exists in the used medical equipment industry to have access to true market values. In response, the site recently launched its Market Value Calculator feature, which enables its users to find the high, low, and average prices of any used medical device, part or accessory.
The Market Value Calculator works by analyzing the pricing trends on the extensive selection of used medical equipment that is currently or was previously posted on MedWOW. Users can modify their searches based on item type (i.e. complete system, part or accessory), medical category, device, manufacturer, model, part name or number (for parts), and year manufactured.
The feature has its clear cut advantages for buyers, but also offers MeWOW’s sellers an upper hand - access to the true market value will reduce sellers’ chances of overpricing or undercharging for items that they post for sale on the site, ultimately increasing their chances of selling. Currently MedWOW is the only website in its class offering users this feature, which is available to the site’s registered members as well as browsing users.
View the Market Value Calculator
With the need for used medical equipment on the rise, there are endless options for medical institutions to choose from on the market. Although used equipment is a more cost-effective solution, health institutions must be clued-in with the price depreciation rates for every device that they are looking into, which can vary greatly from device to device and is not always very easily accessible. Nevertheless, the knowledge of such information is essential as it can prevent buyers from being overcharged by sellers, gives them greater negotiation leverage, and keeps their already limited capital free for other expenses.
MedWOW.com, a leading global marketplace for pre-owned medical equipment has realized the need that exists in the used medical equipment industry to have access to true market values. In response, the site recently launched its Market Value Calculator feature, which enables its users to find the high, low, and average prices of any used medical device, part or accessory.
The Market Value Calculator works by analyzing the pricing trends on the extensive selection of used medical equipment that is currently or was previously posted on MedWOW. Users can modify their searches based on item type (i.e. complete system, part or accessory), medical category, device, manufacturer, model, part name or number (for parts), and year manufactured.
The feature has its clear cut advantages for buyers, but also offers MeWOW’s sellers an upper hand - access to the true market value will reduce sellers’ chances of overpricing or undercharging for items that they post for sale on the site, ultimately increasing their chances of selling. Currently MedWOW is the only website in its class offering users this feature, which is available to the site’s registered members as well as browsing users.
View the Market Value Calculator
Buy and Sell Stocks of Medical Supplies Online
Many players in the medical supply industry often experience situations in which they are left with huge stocks of surplus instruments that they no longer have the need for. This issue can affect the entire spectrum of organizations in the industry, right from manufacturers to end-users; for instance - a manufacturer that is left with a bulk of supplies that have not been sold, or a hospital that is left with an unnecessary bulk of injection needles, or a private clinic leftover with a bulk of bandages that were never used, or any other organization that otherwise distributes or purchases medical supplies.
More likely than not, these organizations just have to write-off their losses with these stocks and these medical supplies end up sitting in boxes for prolonged periods of time, taking up valuable space and collecting dust. However, what if there was a way that these organizations cut their losses by easily clearing their surplus stocks? Chances are that they would jump on the opportunity.
MedWOW.com, an online marketplace that has seen enormous success with the used medical equipment industry, has now expanded its reach to the medical supply market by offering capabilities to buy and sell entire stocks of medical supplies in bulk. The addition to the site comes after extensive industry demand for such an option, from buyers and sellers all over the world.
Medical supply sellers can now use MedWOW’s new selling option to liquidate entire stocks of their medical supplies in one shot, including items such as: gloves, bandages, injection needles, nursing clothes, swabs, surgical gowns, medical shoe covers, blood lancets surgical scalpels, or any other medical supplies commonly sold in bulk. The sellers’ medical supply can be in new, refurbished or used condition, depending on the item.
In addition to being able to utilize the site to sell their medical supplies, sellers can also accelerate the turnaround time on their sales with the ability to post item-depicting videos of their medical supply, and therefore eliminating the need to send sample items to buyers prior to completing the sale.
For buyers, MedWOW’s new feature means having a one-stop-shop to turn to for their medical supply needs, as the items listed have a wide range of categories, rather than catering to one specific medical category. Additionally, buyers have an increased probability of finding the exact medical supply that they are looking for, since the site has supplies listed by sellers from all over the world.
Even with the addition of the medical supplies feature, MedWOW is still actively progressing with its original efforts of connecting buyers and sellers of used medical equipment, parts, and accessories from around the world.
View medical supplies posted on MedWOW
More likely than not, these organizations just have to write-off their losses with these stocks and these medical supplies end up sitting in boxes for prolonged periods of time, taking up valuable space and collecting dust. However, what if there was a way that these organizations cut their losses by easily clearing their surplus stocks? Chances are that they would jump on the opportunity.
MedWOW.com, an online marketplace that has seen enormous success with the used medical equipment industry, has now expanded its reach to the medical supply market by offering capabilities to buy and sell entire stocks of medical supplies in bulk. The addition to the site comes after extensive industry demand for such an option, from buyers and sellers all over the world.
Medical supply sellers can now use MedWOW’s new selling option to liquidate entire stocks of their medical supplies in one shot, including items such as: gloves, bandages, injection needles, nursing clothes, swabs, surgical gowns, medical shoe covers, blood lancets surgical scalpels, or any other medical supplies commonly sold in bulk. The sellers’ medical supply can be in new, refurbished or used condition, depending on the item.
In addition to being able to utilize the site to sell their medical supplies, sellers can also accelerate the turnaround time on their sales with the ability to post item-depicting videos of their medical supply, and therefore eliminating the need to send sample items to buyers prior to completing the sale.
For buyers, MedWOW’s new feature means having a one-stop-shop to turn to for their medical supply needs, as the items listed have a wide range of categories, rather than catering to one specific medical category. Additionally, buyers have an increased probability of finding the exact medical supply that they are looking for, since the site has supplies listed by sellers from all over the world.
Even with the addition of the medical supplies feature, MedWOW is still actively progressing with its original efforts of connecting buyers and sellers of used medical equipment, parts, and accessories from around the world.
View medical supplies posted on MedWOW
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