Varian Medical Systems out of Palo Alto, California has released its TrueBeam image guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery system. With its new product, the firm promises faster treatments and high precision in targeting tumors, as well as continuous monitoring and adjustment of the accelerator’s beam in line with the patient’s natural organ movements. University Hospital of Zürich has received one of two pre-release models of the TrueBeam and has already successfully treated patients with a variety of different cancers.
Designed to be a versatile platform, a TrueBeam system can be used for all forms of advanced external-beam radiotherapy including image-guided radiotherapy and radiosurgery (IGRT and IGRS), intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) and RapidArc® radiotherapy. The product line includes TrueBeam STx, specially configured for advanced radiosurgery.
A TrueBeam system can deliver treatments up to 50 percent faster with a dose delivery rate of up to 2400 monitor units per minute, double the maximum output of earlier, industry-leading Varian systems.
"Intelligent" automation further speeds treatments with an up to five-fold reduction in the number of steps needed for imaging, positioning and treating patients. A standard intensity-modulated treatment that would typically take ten minutes can be completed in less than two minutes. Complex radiosurgery that typically takes 40 minutes to an hour, can be completed in just 5 to 20 minutes.
The precision of a TrueBeam system is measured in increments of less than a millimeter. This accuracy is made possible by the system’s sophisticated architecture, which establishes a new level of synchronization between imaging, patient positioning, motion management, beam shaping, and dose delivery technologies, performing accuracy checks every ten milliseconds throughout an entire treatment. Over 100,000 data points are monitored continually as a treatment progresses, ensuring that the system maintains a "true isocenter," or focal point of treatment.
The TrueBeam system also delivers Varian’s new ‘gated’ RapidArc radiotherapy, which compensates for tumor motion by synchronizing imaging with dose delivery during a continuous rotation around the patient.
Other innovations built in to the TrueBeam system include:
A streamlined treatment console with a modern, graphical, easy-to-use interface that consolidates all controls for imaging, treatment, and motion management. Treatment processes and workflows are simplified and easy to learn, with prompts, messages, and a “follow the light” guidance system that enhances safety by guiding therapists through the steps of even the most complex treatments. “One button” IGRT enables the therapist to spend more time attending to the patient, and less time managing the technology.
A newly-designed X-ray tube is optimized for generating high volumes of quality 3-D (cone-beam CT) images.
These 3-D images can be generated in 60% less time, with a 25% reduction in X-ray dose to the patient.
A treatment couch that can be positioned with sub-millimeter accuracy in relation to imaging and beam delivery processes.
A unique new non-clinical Developer Mode designed to facilitate collaboration with Oncology thought leaders interested in pioneering new treatment and imaging techniques.
Product page: Varian TrueBeam…
Press releases: Varian Medical Systems Introduces Revolutionary New TrueBeam™ System for High-Precision Image-Guided Radiotherapy and Radiosurgery…; University Hospital Zürich First in the World to Treat Cancer Patients with New TrueBeam™ System from Varian Medical Systems…
About 33,000 NordicTrack Revitalize, Gold’s Gym and Weider Clubinversion benches have been recalled because they could pose a fall hazard to consumers, officials announced Wednesday.
The exercise benches were made in China and distributed by ICON Health & Fitness Inc. of Logan, Utah. ICON Health & Fitness has received 75 reports of incidents, including 23 injuries, some to the head and neck. They were sold at sporting good stores, Walmart, Sears and other retailers nationwide from April 2008 through February 2009.
Details: by phone at 866-506-9095; on the Web at www.cpsc.gov.
In a separate action, about 20,000 buoyancy compensators used in scuba diving were recalled Wednesday.
The products, made in the United States by Ocean Management Systems Inc., are being recalled because the seal ring could crack, posing a drowning hazard to divers. They were sold in black or red and have OMS printed on their front inside. They were sold at dive stores nationwide from May 2006 through August 2008.
Details: by phone at 877-791-0315; on the Web at www.cpsc.gov.
With this weekend expected to bring the first wave of 90-degree temperatures this year, fitness enthusiasts shouldmake sure to take precautions. After all, no matter how gooda shape a person is in, he or she likely will fight a losing batter againstMother Natureand what she has in store for us.
Here are some suggestions for exercising during those hot days that Florida has in store for us:
1. Avoid exercising during the hottest part of the day. This sounds so simple, but I am sure we all have seen someone getting in a run or long bike ride during the early to mid-afternoon when the mercury is hitting 90 degrees and above. We admire their dedication but wonder: Is the early morning an option? What about the early evening when the temperatures have cooled down a bit? Sometimes that is not an option, but I can tell you as an early-morning runner (now) who used to run in the late morning (then), I can complete my workouts now at a faster pace than I could when it felt like I was running into an oven.
2. No water restrictions. We’ve all seen the restrictions about watering our lawns and totally support the need to conserve water and not be wasteful. But for fitness enthusiasts, we say: Drink away. When you are going to be gone from your home or any place where water is available for a long period, take water with you. Believe us: Your body will thank you.
3. SPF alert. People tend to be more bummed when they forget their iPod at home than when they forget water or putting on sunscreen when they are exercising in extreme heat. The sun is wonderful for a lot of things, but its effects can pose a danger. If you know anyone with skin cancer, you know what we are talking about. Protect yourself, even on those days when it is not oppressively hot.
4. What about working out indoors? There is no rule that says you have to work out outside, although that is preferrable for a lot of us (including me). Can you run on a treadmill instead of on the streets of your favorite neighborhood? Can you swim at the indoor pool at the Y instead of outside? What about trying a spinning class instead of going for that long bike ride? Life’s all about options.
5. Incorporate more breaks into your workout. Give yourself more time to rest (in a shady spot, of course), and listen to your body when it is trying to tell you it can’t go any further. The great thing about fitness enthusiasts is that there is some part of all of us that wants to push the limits to see what we can do physically. That’s great, as long as we are safe about it. There is no harm done in giving yourself a break during a workout when the conditions become unbearable.
Howdo you protect yourself when working out in the heat?
We hope this helps you. Take care and be safe when working out.
Mention the term "muscle tone" on many of the major bodybuilding forums and prepare to get flamed. I don't spend much time over on those sites unless I notice a surge of traffic coming from a forum to this blog. Typically I upset someone for challenging their locked in notion of getting in shape. A member of one of those forums will then post something inflammatory about a particular post of mine. Then I get a few dozen homophobic and sexist comments sent my way (the owners of those forums must be proud). This post will address the term "muscle tone" and why I use it on a regular basis, despite being a pet peeve of the bodybuilding forums.
[Just another creative photo for you. Mannequins can be kind of creepy, but that is what gives them their charm.]
Thank God for Mark Rippetoe and His Book!
I owe my understanding of how to tone a muscle to Pavel Tsatsouline's work Power to the People. I read this amazing book back in the late 90's and it changed my approach to lifting for muscle tone forever. While I think that book is pure gold, Mark Rippetoe explains how to improve muscle tone perfectly in his book, Practical Programming for Strength Training.
The modern fitness industrys concept of toning muscles is speciousit might sound cool, but it lacks any tangible and definable meaning. The term muscle tone or tonus describes an electrophysiological phenomenon, a measure of ionic flow across muscle cell membranes. It can be thought of as the muscles readiness to do anaerobic wort. The more fit the muscle, the more electrophysiological activity it exhibits at rest. Lack of exercise leads to poor tone, aerobic exercise improves tone a little bit, low-intensity weight training improves tone more, and high-intensity training improves tone the fastest.
"High Intensity Training Improves Tone the Fastest"
Heavy strength training is what increases muscle tone (it is what I have been saying for close to 3 years now). It creates a muscle with greater residual tension while in a rested state…meaning the muscle is firm and defined while at rest…more "toned". Here is the rest of Mark's quote about muscle tone…
As a test, go poke the traps or quads of an elite weightlifter at rest, if shell let you. Theyll he hard as rock. The same muscles of an elite road cyclist at rest will be firm, but not hard. Then compare the athletes muscle tone to that of a sedentary person. The results will he quite enlightening. Most exercise programs that claim to improve muscle tone are actually lower-intensity hypertrophy programs and are only moderately effective for improving muscle tone. If tone is the goal, strength is the method.
Low Body Fat Reveals Your Muscle Tone
The guys in the bodybuilding forums have a really basic understanding of how to create a defined look. They believe that you can't "tone" a muscle. They are flat out wrong and could learn a thing or two about muscle physiology, how the nervous system is tied into lifting, etc. It is true that you need to lose body fat to reveal your muscle tone…but the muscle tone displayed can vary greatly depending upon a number of factors. Bottom line, it isn't just about building a muscle and then getting to low body fat levels to create a defined look (which is what many would have you believe).
Muscle Tone is a Function of the Nervous System
As Mark Rippetoe states, muscle tone is an "electrophysiological" phenomenon. Getting stronger is also largely a function of the nervous system. The greater the nerve impulse to a muscle…the stronger it contracts and the greater force that muscle will generate. As a muscle becomes stronger, your nervous system becomes more efficient at sending strong signals to that muscle. Over time, the muscle will have a greater "ionic flow" even at rest…AKA greater "muscle tone".
Note: I was pretty shocked by the prevalent homophobic tone of a particularly large bodybuilding forum. I guess that is what is considered cool on that site. I consider this the same as racism. I can't believe this stuff still exists. There are much better places to learn about getting in amazing shape without the hate and disgusting comments (I'll get off of my soap box now).
Tags: Muscle Tone Strategies, aerobic exercise, bodybuilding, getting stronger, low body fat, muscle tone, nervous system, Pavel Tsatsouline, power to the people, strength training
The DiabetesMine Design Challenge, a competition of product and design ideas to help diabetics improve life with the disease, will be closing its doors to submissions this Friday. Last year we had a great time reviewing dozens of truly creative entries and this year we’re again proud to help out with organizing the event. We’re looking forward to smart ideas and hopefully real world products that will come out of this project. There’s $23,000 up for grabs in addition to help with getting the grand prize entry off the ground as a real product.
Link: DiabetesMine Design Challenge: Enter By This Friday!
The exercise benches were made in China and distributed by ICON Health & Fitness Inc. of Logan, Utah. ICON Health & Fitness has received 75 reports of incidents, including 23 injuries, some to the head and neck. They were sold at sporting good stores, Walmart, Sears and other retailers nationwide from April 2008 through February 2009.
The DiabetesMine Design Challenge, a competition of product and design ideas to help diabetics improve life with the disease, will be closing its doors to submissions this Friday. Last year we had a great time reviewing dozens of truly creative entries and this year we’re again proud to help out with organizing the event. We’re looking forward to smart ideas and hopefully real world products that will come out of this project. There’s $23,000 up for grabs in addition to help with getting the grand prize entry off the ground as a real product.
