UK moulder wins cutting edge radiotherapy contract

UK manufacturer Broadwater Mouldings is working with oncology tech group Elekta on a range of radiotherapy systems designed to improve targetting of tumour tissue.

Elekta, a firm specialised in clinical solutions for treating cancer and brain disorders has tasked the Suffolk based FRP manufacturing company to mould the parts needed for the world’s first high-field high energy magnetic resonance image guided linear accelerator (MR-linac) platform.

Carl Reddington, project engineering manager for Broadwater Mouldings said: “Elekta have an unparalleled market reputation for research and innovation, and are held in the highest esteem within the clinical solutions field, as such they recognise that they require partners who can operate to the highest possible standards of excellence as they do. Broadwater Mouldings is proud to be associated with the new MR-linac platform and will continue to work with Elekta, to ensure the pioneering research enhances the field of cancer care”.

Reddington continued: “In early 2014 Broadwater produced “safety covers” for the machine testing of the MR-Linac. Since then we have been involved in the design and development of covers which can be supplied directly to a hospital or clinic. Broadwater have helped Elekta design a covers set which can be manufactured cost effectively providing a variety of semi-gloss and high gloss components”.

Elekta solutions in oncology and neurosurgery are used in over 6,000 hospitals worldwide with corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden. Developing new tools and treatment planning systems for radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, Elektaprovides intelligent and resource-efficient solutions.

Broadwater Mouldings has collaborated with Elekta extensively in the past, with the new structure integrating a radiotherapy system and a high-field MRI scanner with sophisticated software that allows a physician to clearly see the patient’s anatomy in real time.

The MR-linac is designed to improve targeting of tumour tissue while reducing exposure of normal tissue to radiation beams. It will allow physicians to precisely locate a tumour, as well as lock onto it during delivery, even when tumour tissue is moving during treatment or changes shape, location or size between treatment sessions.