What is Image- Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT)?

How Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) Came to Be

Image-guided radiotherapy, or IGRT as it is commonly known, evolved from IMRT. IMRT provides far greater beam shaping capabilities than 3D radiation therapy, in this manner allowing more sophisticated and precise treatment. However, radiologists continued to require a safety margin for error for all treatments because of the intrinsic doubt of exact tumor location each and every day.  For example, the prostate moves in a multitude of directions each day depending on how full or empty the bladder and rectum are. In the past, even with IMRT, Drs would need to add a safety margin around the prostate to account for this day-to-day variability in prostate location.  This added margin resulted in a larger target (prostate) to be treated with radiation and more of the bladder and rectum included within the radiation field, thereby, increasing the risk of damage to these healthy organs. Image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) has changed all of this. IGRT does exactly what its name states: it uses the image of the target to guide the delivery of radiation for each and every treatment. 

Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), the All-Digital Treatment System

Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), the all-digital treatment system, allows physicians to see a patient’s tumor in real- time at treatment, even if a tumor has moved - because of a patient's breathing, heartbeat, gastrointestinal changes or other activities. Tumors also change their position and their size during the course of radiotherapy treatment, which typically consists of multiple treatments over several weeks.

At the start of radiotherapy, technicians take a CT scan of a tumor and enter that data into a treatment-planning system. Image-Guided Radiotherapy IGRT software produces a three-dimensional, digitized image of the patient's tumor, sharply identifying the slightest contour. Once that image is captured, it can be recalled for every treatment session. If significant tumor movement has occurred, physicians can then adjust the patient's position or, if required, re-do the treatment plan, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

 Why Use Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT)?

With Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT), physicians can match the radiation beam to the precise shape of your tumor far more precisely reducing the total amount of radiation you using built-in imaging technology at ultra-low doses.  The Image-Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) reduces or eliminates the need for implanting markers, as physicians can visualize soft tissue detail using imaging tools. Tumors that were previously untreatable, because of their proximity to organs or the spinal cord can now receive treatment, which is a huge advance in treatment methods.

The MedWOW Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT) Solution

MedWOW features a comprehensive selection of new, used and refurbished radiology equipment, including complete image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) systems by Nomos, especially the Nomos Bat Belfry.

As the largest global online marketplace for all kinds of medical equipment, MedWOW features a comprehensive searchable catalogue that allows you to filter for make, manufacturer, continent, condition, price range, seller’s business type, and other filters particular to radiology equipment.

If you don’t find the specific image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) system you are looking for, you can post a free buying request which typically will bring you a number of competitive quotes from some of MedWOW’s worldwide sellers.

The Importance of Forced-Air Warming Devices

What Does a Forced-Air Warming Device Do?

A forced air warming system is a medical electrical device used to help keep patients warm during anesthesia and surgery. The forced air warming unit is made up of a reusable controller and disposable, single-use blankets.

A forced air warming system comprises a controller plus a compatible disposable blanket. The controller contains the following components:

• Electric motor and fan
• Electric heating element
• Thermostats
• Air filter
• Hose

In operation the fan draws in air through the filter and the heating element heats it to a selected temperature, controlled by the thermostats. Heated air travels through the hose to the blanket, which connects to the hose nozzle.

The blanket is double layered and inflates in operation. The patient contact surface is permeable to air and the warm air exits the blanket and moves over the patient's skin and transfers heat to the patient by convection.

The most significant operational factors relate to the single use blankets. It is essential that the blankets are compatible with the controller and the range of blankets available for the controller is an important factor in the purchasing decision.

The blankets are bulky and require storage space.

Unplanned hypothermia (a core temperature of less than 36 degrees C) can negatively impact patients in many ways. Even mild hypothermia may contribute to complications such as: surgical site infection, altered drug metabolism, impaired blood clotting, cardiovascular ischemia, prolonged recovery following surgery and shivering.

It is maintained by many professionals in the field that active patient warming is associated with normalizing patient temperature. The literature supports the use of forced air warming devices for normalizing patient temperature and reducing shivering. In addition, the literature suggests that forced-air warming is associated with reduced time in recovery. Also, it is agreed that both the perioperative maintenance of normothermia and the use of forced-air warming reduce shivering and improve patient comfort and satisfaction. It is recommended that normothermia should be a goal during emergence and recovery, and that when available, forced-air warming systems should be used for treating hypothermia.

The Risks of Hypothermia

Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia is a common and preventable complication of surgery. Inadvertent perioperative hypothermia is defined when the core body temperature is drops below 36⁰C and is associated with poor outcomes for patients.

The possible consequences of hypothermia are:

• Increased risk of wound infection
• Increased perioperative blood loss
• Longer post-anesthetic recovery
• Postoperative shivering and thermal discomfort
• Morbid cardiac events including arrhythmia
• Altered drug metabolism
• Increased risk of pressure sores
• Reduced patient satisfaction with the surgical experience
• Longer hospital stay

Preventing Hypothermia Using Forced-Air Warming

Prevention of hypothermia requires the use of simple measures, such as warm clothing, use of a duvet (comforter) or blankets preoperatively and active warming of the patient and intravenous fluids, especially in the operating room. A range of active patient warming devices have been designed for use in the perioperative and critical care environment, including: electric blankets, heated fluid filled mattresses, radiant warmers and forced air warming devices.

The cost of disposable blankets is the most significant cost of forced air warming and purchasers should make use of bulk purchasing arrangements in order to benefit from volume discounts.

Where to Find Forced Air-Warming Devices

MedWOW offers a comprehensive selection of new, used and refurbished Forced Air-Warming Systems from a multiplicity of manufacturers and distributors throughout the world. As the main global eCommerce platform for all kinds of medical equipment, MedWOW features a comprehensive searchable catalogue that allows you to filter for make, manufacturer, continent, condition, price range, seller’s business type, heating intensity, size and uses when looking for the forced Air-warming device best-suited to your particular medical facility.

Currently MedWOW features Forced Air-Warming Systems from the following manufacturers:

Augustine Medical, Cincinnati Sub-zero, Gaymar Industries, Gibek, Kan Med, Mallinckrodt Puritan, Stihler Electronic and The Surgical Company.

If you don’t find the specific Forced Air Warmer you are looking for, you can post a free buying request which typically will bring you a number of competitive quotes from MedWOW’s global distributors.

Why PACS Workstations are Essential Tools

What exactly is PACS?

Picture Archiving and Communications Systems, or as they are more commonly known, PACS, are being used in most hospitals and radiology clinics. This digital imaging technology has replaced the old way of capturing x-rays and scans on film and paper, enabling clinical images to be stored electronically and viewed on screen.

PACS work with x-ray and scanning technology such as Computerized Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and ultrasound to make x-rays and scanned images available to view on screens within radiology, and to share with other hospital departments like accident and emergency, neurology and orthopedics.

With PACS, clinical images are instantly and simultaneously available for study at multiple locations within a trust. PACS supports more effective team working between clinicians and therefore aids swifter and more accurate diagnoses and treatment for patients.

In radiology, PACS is combined with a radiology information system, or RIS. Radiologists report on the x-rays and scanned images they can view on PACS, and the subsequent reports they produce are then accessible from the images with which they are associated.

Why do we need PACS?

For the past 100 years, film was the main means for capturing, storing and displaying radiographic images. However, film is a fixed medium with usually only one set of images available.

PACS allows for a near filmless process, with all of the flexibility of digital systems. It also removes the costs associated with hard film processing and releases valuable space previously used for film storage. Most importantly, PACS is helping to transform patients’ experience of the care they receive across the NHS. It does this by enabling a speedier diagnosis and by removing the risk of images being lost or misplaced.

How does PACS improve patient care?

With PACS clinicians can access the right image in the right place at the right time. The technology enables:

• Faster accessibility to medical images for the clinicians who evaluate and report on them. This can lead to the speedier availability of results.
• No lost or misplaced images, which means fewer patients having their consultations or operations postponed or cancelled.
• Fewer unnecessary re-investigations, which in turn reduces the amount of radiation to which patients are exposed.
• Flexible viewing, with the ability to manipulate images on screen, ensuring that patients can be diagnosed more effectively.
• Instant access to historic images, so that new and old images can be compared and the progress of patients’ treatment and condition(s) monitored.
• Better teamwork and collaboration because, with PACS, images can be viewed from multiple terminals and locations within a trust by a range of clinicians. And the vast majority of trusts now have the ability to share images electronically with other trusts.

As a result of all of these improvements, PACS is enabling patients to move on quickly to the next stage in their treatment.

MedWOW features an impressive array of new, used and refurbished PACS, as well as replacement PACS parts from a variety of manufacturers. As the principal international eCommerce platform for all kinds of medical equipment, MedWOW, features a comprehensive searchable catalogue that allows you to filter for make, manufacturer, continent, condition, price range, seller’s business type and communications protocols when shopping for your PACS.

Currently MedWOW features PACS from the following manufacturers:

Agfa, Agilent, AMS, Dicomit Imaging Systems, Dyonics, GE Healthcare, Hewlett Packard, Kodak, Radrix Systems, S&S MedCart, Sectra and Sony.

If you don’t find the specific PACS you are looking for, you can post a free buying request which typically will bring you a number of competitive quotes from MedWOW’s global inventories.