Partnership to Connect Oncology Software with Linear Accelerators

Siemens Healthcare (Erlangen, Germany) and Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA, USA) reported that that clinicians from the Ohio State University (Columbus, USA) are now employing Varian software to plan and manage radiotherapy treatments delivered on a Siemens medical linear accelerator.

The companies have developed and implemented an interface that connects Varian’s Aria oncology information system with Siemens’ Oncor and Primus accelerators and imaging systems. “Since we launched the global strategic partnership with Siemens last year, we have been steadily working to develop software interfaces that enable clinics with Siemens linear accelerators to manage patient care using Varian software,” said Kolleen Kennedy, president of Varian’s Oncology Systems business. “With this new interface, we can connect to about 80% of the Siemens equipment in the field. Now the majority of Siemens-equipped sites can choose to adopt Aria for managing all aspects of care, from initial diagnosis through post-treatment follow-up.”

Siemens received 510(k) clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for connectivity between Varian’s Aria software and Siemens’ Oncor and Primus linear accelerators in March 2013. “Developing these interfaces was one of our main goals when we launched our partnership last year,” said Walter Maerzendorfer, CEO of Siemens computed tomography and radiation oncology. “We’re pleased to have now released this interface and completed the first deployment at such a luminary US treatment center. We would like to thank the team at The Ohio State University for valuable clinical input during the interface development process, and for helping our teams identify ways of enhancing the workflow when Varian software is used to manage treatment on a Siemens linear accelerator.”

“This [collaboration] demonstrates our commitment to the community of Siemens technology users,” Ms. Kennedy stated. “It allows us to offer them a seamlessly integrated option for improving workflow and streamlining operations.”

Varian has also initiated a service and support program to support oncology treatment centers converting to Aria from other third-party oncology information systems, including the Lantis system from Siemens. The program is designed to provide data conversion, application training, and workflow consulting as well as software connectivity licenses.

Related Links:
Siemens Healthcare
Varian Medical Systems
Ohio State University