Elekta’s Esteya brachytherapy system launches in US

Elekta has announced that its potentially groundbreaking new electronic brachytherapy system Esteya has been introduced in the US market.

The company's technology has been used to treat a total of ten patients at a clinic in California and is delivering a number of benefits. It is a form of high-dose rate brachytherapy that brings the brachytherapy source in close proximity to the cancerous site.

Because of its direct delivery mechanism, more therapeutic radiation is focused on the disease target, minimising radiation to surrounding tissues and organs. Meanwhile, the once-daily two-minute quality assurance process is much quicker than for other machines, where checks must be performed on every source in every machine, each time a patient comes in.

It is therefore particularly well-tailored to treating small superficial skin lesions, particularly in a cosmetically sensitive area, such as the face.

Dr Rakesh Patel, medical director at the Targeted Radiation Institute in California, said: "Electronic brachytherapy systems present a tremendous opportunity for patients with skin cancer by extending the reach of brachytherapy beyond cancer centers and radiation facilities."

Elekta is a leading developer of innovative technologies for the treatment of cancer and brain disorders, employing around 3,500 people worldwide.