Varian Medical Systems Exhibits a New Version of RapidArc™ Radiotherapy Technology and Other Products for Fast, Precise Cancer Treatment | Varian

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Varian Medical Systems Exhibits a New Version of RapidArc™ Radiotherapy Technology and Other Products for Fast, Precise Cancer Treatment

BOSTON, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- ASTRO Booth # 547 -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR), world leader in advanced radiotherapy solutions for treating cancer and other disorders, is showcasing a full spectrum of technologies and products for planning and delivering fast, precise cancer treatments at the 50th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology in Boston this week. In addition, the Varian booth at ASTRO includes a glimpse into the company's vision of future technologies for managing cancer care from diagnosis to survivorship. On Display in the ASTRO Booth

On display in Varian's ASTRO booth are the company's world-class technologies for external beam radiotherapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, and brachytherapy, including:

-- A new version of RapidArc™ radiotherapy technology, which makes it possible to quickly deliver a volumetric intensity-modulated arc treatment with a single rotation of the treatment machine around the patient. New features include multiple and non-coplanar arc treatments for the accurate targeting of large, irregularly shaped, or awkwardly-positioned tumors. (See related press release entitled Varian to Showcase RapidArc™ Radiotherapy Technology Enhancements at ASTRO 2008).

-- The Novalis Tx™ image-guided radiosurgery platform, which combines imaging, treatment planning, treatment delivery, and motion management tools from Varian and BrainLAB for the non-invasive treatment of cancer and disorders of the central nervous system. (See related press release entitled Noninvasive Radiosurgery with Novalis Tx™ Platform Rolling Out Worldwide).

-- The On-Board Imager® kV imaging device for image-guided radiotherapy, enhanced to generate higher-quality images at lower X-ray doses and to enable acquisition of a 40-second half-scan cone-beam CT image.

-- The OncQT™ data analysis software tool, developed with colleagues at the Alberta Cancer Board of Canada, for analyzing electronic information in patients' medical records and generating reports about treatment protocols and outcomes. "In addition to improving the quality of cancer care, quantitative data analysis has tremendous implications for cost control in healthcare," said Corey Zankowski, senior director for oncology product management at Varian. "Unproductive medical care is expensive. Evidence based clinical decision making has the potential to improve outcomes and reduce costs."

-- Equicare CS™ case management software, a program from Cogent Health Solutions that links with Varian's ARIA™ oncology information system to help doctors provide cancer survivors with proactive follow-up care. The Equicare case management system is a web-based tool that generates a care plan based on best practices, creates a dynamic link between patients, clinicians, and caregivers, and helps survivors achieve better clinical compliance, improved outcomes, and a better quality of life following cancer treatment.

A "Future Developments" Exhibit

In a "future developments" area of the exhibit, Varian is showcasing several works-in-progress that are not available for sale in the U.S. The exhibit features:

-- An architecture for a new Oncology PACS (picture archiving and communication system) for long-term image management and storage. In development by Varian researchers in partnership with Xstor Medical Systems, Varian's Oncology PACs is being designed to furnish oncology departments with a scalable, integrated image storage solution with a web-based interface that adheres to industry standard DICOM RT and HL7 communication protocols.

-- New methods for managing motion during treatment delivery, including real-time imaging, as well as a method that utilizes the Calypso® 4D Localization System to monitor and adjust for tumor motion during radiotherapy treatment.

  Users' Meeting and Emerging Technologies Symposium
  Varian is also sponsoring two events during the meeting:

1) Users' Meeting on Saturday, September 20, from 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. at the Renaissance Boston Waterfront Hotel, with presentations about:

-- Early adopters' clinical experience with RapidArc™ radiotherapy technology

-- The use of multimodality imaging to optimize treatment plans for difficult cases

-- Using the ARIA™ oncology information system to achieve a paperless environment

-- Pairing HDR brachytherapy with IMRT to treat prostate cancer Managing cancer survivorship.

2) Emerging Technologies Symposium, Tuesday, September 23, 6:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. at the Westin Boston Waterfront Hotel. Speakers include:

-- Ben Slotman, MD, PhD, of Vrije Universiteit Medical Centre of Amsterdam, a member of Varian's RapidArc Council, who will talk about his experience during the product evaluation phase, and then his experience using RapidArc to treat a wide range of cancer types.

-- Benjamin Movsas, MD, chairman of the Department of Radiation Oncology at Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, will then talk about advances in image-guided radiosurgery using the Novalis Tx™ platform from Varian and BrainLAB.

ABOUT VARIAN MEDICAL SYSTEMS

Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies X-ray imaging products for cargo screening and industrial inspection. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 4,800 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America and Europe and approximately 60 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit 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 "has the potential to" and "is being designed to furnish" 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:

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

SOURCE: Varian Medical Systems, Inc.

CONTACT: Meryl Ginsberg of Varian Medical Systems, Inc.,
+1-650-424-6444, meryl.ginsberg@varian.com

Web site: http://www.varian.com/
http://www.astro.org/Meetings/AnnualMeetings