Varian Medical Systems revealed that Emory University School of Medicine's department of radiation oncology is the first U.S. healthcare facility to utilize its fully robotic on-board imaging system for tracking tumor locations and positioning patients.

Emory clinicians have treated seven patients with image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) using Varian's new On-Board Imager accessory and a Clinac linear accelerator.

Varian's On-Board Imager is a digital imaging system mounted on the treatment machine via robotically controlled arms that operate along three axes of motion, allowing the imager to be positioned for the best possible view of the tumor and surrounding anatomy. The device produces high-resolution images of the tumor, and it can also track tumor motion to provide doctors with a clear indication of exactly how a tumor will move during treatment due to normal breathing and other physiological processes.