Brachytherapy Applicator Set Developed for Esophagus Cancer Treatment

An updated brachytherapy applicator set is designed specifically for intraluminal treatment of cancer of the esophagus.

Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA, USA) has received 510k clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the set. The Esophagus Bougie Set can now be used with Varian's full range of VariSource and GammaMed HDR (high-dose rate) afterloaders.

"This updated applicator set, now also available for our VariSource users, enables clinicians to deliver more effective and precise brachytherapy treatments to the esophagus,” stated Claudia Andres-Zindler, Varian's applicator product manager.

The applicator set has been designed to ensure an optimal distance from the source to the tissue being treated. The set is equipped with Bougies (slender, cylindrical instruments inserted into the esophagus) in four different diameters, facilitating the centered source position in the esophagus and optimizing the distance to the tissue to be treated.

Also included in the set are a bite-protector and fixation, a fixation plate with band for each Bougie diameter, and a guiding wire that allows for use of the Seldinger technique to insert the Bougie into position.


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