Varian Medical Systems to Showcase Technologies for Non-Invasive, Image-Guided Radiosurgery | Varian

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Varian Medical Systems to Showcase Technologies for Non-Invasive, Image-Guided Radiosurgery

PALO ALTO, Calif., April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) will feature its newest, most advanced imaging and treatment technologies for image-guided non-invasive neurosurgery at the upcoming annual meeting of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) from April 22-27 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, California. Varian will be showcasing the Trilogy™ image-guided radio surgery instrument, a versatile and clinically advanced device that delivers fast, comfortable, automated neurosurgery treatments.

"Trilogy has been optimized for non-invasive, painless, neurosurgical treatment of tumors, vascular malformations, and other neurological abnormalities," said Lester Boeh, vice president and general manager of Varian Surgical Sciences. "In addition, we'll be presenting some new concepts in treatment planning and treatment delivery that will increase the accuracy of dose delivery even further in the near future."

Varian's Trilogy Technology for Neurosurgery

Varian's Trilogy radiosurgery solution incorporates a low-dose, high resolution X-ray imager that facilitates accurate patient positioning and makes it possible to rapidly deliver powerful, precisely placed beams to small areas in the brain and other parts of the body. Beam shaping can be accomplished using conventional radiosurgical cones with tiny apertures or with a dynamic multileaf collimator, a computerized mechanical device that uses many individually controlled tungsten leaves or fingers to sculpt the radiation beam and vary its intensity according to the neurosurgeon's treatment plan.

According to Patrick Elwood, MD, Director of the Illinois Neurological Institute and Professor of Neurosurgery for the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine at Peoria, the ability to choose between different beam-shaping tools is a major advantage of the Trilogy system. "Trilogy gives us the option of using dynamic collimation to deliver intensity-modulated radiosurgery -- IMRS," he says. "That means we can treat larger and irregularly-shaped volumes that are difficult to treat using other types of beam-shaping technology. With the Trilogy, we can elect to treat individual patients with either frame-based or frameless intracranial radiosurgery using cones or with IMRS, a clinical flexibility that is unmatched."

In addition to the Trilogy radiosurgery technology, Varian will be exhibiting an array of hardware and software products for the neurosurgery market, including:

--  Patient immobilization and motion management devices for stereotactic
       radiosurgery
   --  The SonArray 3-D ultrasound patient positioning system
   --  Treatment planning software for stereotactic radiosurgery.

Motorcycle Stylist Arlen Ness to Appear in Varian Booth

The Varian AANS exhibit will also feature "Top Banana," an award winning motorcycle built by internationally-renowned designer Arlen Ness, who will appear in the booth from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday, April 24, and Tuesday, April 25. "In keeping with the theme of our ultra-precise radiosurgery technology, we expect that many members of the neurosurgery community will also enjoy an example of Ness' 'Precision in Motion' motorcycle designs," Boeh said.

Note to editors: high resolution images of the Trilogy technology are available in the image gallery of Varian Medical Systems' online newsroom at http://varian.mediaroom.com/ .

ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS, INC.

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California is the world's leading manufacturer of medical technology for treating cancer with radiotherapy and neurological conditions with radiosurgery. The company is also a premier supplier of X-ray tubes and flat-panel digital subsystems for imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 3,600 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America and Europe and in its 56 sales and support offices around the world. Additional information is available on the company's web site at http://www.varian.com/ .

FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

Statements in this press release regarding future business, events, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, and other similar matters, including, but not limited to, statements using the terms "will," "can," and "possible" constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, the risks described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed from time to time by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements because of new information, future events, or otherwise.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
   Spencer Sias, 650-424-5782
   spencer.sias@varian.com

   Meryl Ginsberg, 650-424-6444
   meryl.ginsberg@varian.com

   AANS Booth # 1026

SOURCE: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

CONTACT: Spencer Sias, +1-650-424-5782, or spencer.sias@varian.com; or
Meryl Ginsberg, +1-650-424-6444, or meryl.ginsberg@varian.com, both of Varian
Medical Systems, Inc.

Web site: http://www.varian.com/