Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, California) has formed a council of cancer centers in North America and Europe to further the development of clinical protocols using its RapidArc radiotherapy technology for fast and precise cancer treatments. RapidArc makes it possible to deliver advanced image-guided, intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) two to eight times faster than is possible with conventional IMRT or helical tomotherapy.

The council members have been working with early versions of the Varian RapidArc system to potentially expand clinical applications for the new treatment method. As part of this effort, they intend to develop additional clinical presentations on the new technology for submission to scientific meetings, journals and symposia. In addition, the council members will collaborate with Varian engineers and developers in Switzerland, Finland and the U.S. on future enhancements to the technology.

RapidArc delivers a complete volumetric IMRT treatment in a single arc of the treatment machine around the patient. Varian equipment was used to treat a prostate cancer patient with volumetric modulated arc therapy at the BC Cancer Agency in October 2007, making it the world's first VMAT treatment of its kind.

Varian Medical Systems makes devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy.

TissueLink now Salient Surgical

TissueLink Medical (Dover, New Hampshire) said it has changed its name to Salient Surgical Technologies.

Joe Army, president/CEO said that the name change "ensures that our company will no longer be mistaken for a biologics or tissue bank company. The new name -- Salient Surgical Technologies -- reflects our focus on delivering surgical products that provide improved clinical and economic value to customers."

Salient makes surgical products based on its Transcollation technology for sealing blood vessels and other collagen-based structures. Transcollation technology integrates saline and radiofrequency energy via saline-induced liquid electrodes that deliver thermal energy to selected tissues and bone.

Current applications include reducing blood loss during and after orthopedic hip and knee reconstructions, multi-level spinal fusions and surgical oncology.

Life Spine expands HQ

Life Spine (Hoffman Estates, Illinois) reported completing an expansion into a new 11,000 sq. ft. headquarter facility, more than doubling the space it has occupied for the previous year.

"Our newly expanded headquarters space should allow us to scale our operations to better support the rapid growth that Life Spine continues to experience," said Michael Butler, president/CEO. "This strategic move will accommodate the ongoing expansion of key company functions. Also, our new wet lab, which is part of the space being added, will be used for development of new products as well as surgeon and clinician education."