Varian Medical Systems

Overview

Varian Medical Systems Inc.

type	Subsidiary
foundation	1948
location	Palo Alto, California, U.S.
key people	Arthur Kaindl, CEO ‡R1R‡
industry	Medical Technology
products	Medical Devices
revenue	US$ 2,919.1 million (2018) ‡R2R‡ US$ 2,619.3 million (2017) ‡R2R‡
operating income	US$ 441.6 million (2018) ‡R2R‡ US$ 300.2 million (2017) ‡R2R‡
net income	US$ 150.3 million (2018) ‡R2R‡ US$ 219.2 million (2017) ‡R2R‡
assets	US$ 3,252.7 million (2018) ‡R2R‡ US$ 3,179.4 million (2017) ‡R3R‡
equity	US$ 1,588.7 million (2018) ‡R2R‡ US$ 1,499.3 million (2017) ‡R3R‡
num employees	10,000 ‡R2R‡
parent	Siemens Healthineers
homepage	https://www.varian.com

Varian Medical Systems is an American radiation oncology treatments and software maker based in Palo Alto, California. Their medical devices include linear accelerators (LINACs) and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy. The company supplies software for managing cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers, and medical oncology practices. Varian Medical Systems employs more than 7,100 people [2] at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sites globally.[4]

In August 2020, Siemens Healthineers announced plans to acquire Varian for $16.4 billion.[5][6] The deal was completed in April 2021.[7]

Products

Linear accelerators

Varian manufactures a range of megavoltage LINACs with varying levels of features and complexity, for example different numbers of multileaf collimators or the ability to perform radiosurgery.[28]

TrueBeam is a radiotherapy system.[29]

The EDGE radiosurgery suite was launched in 2012.[30] The first cancer centers to use the new system were the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal, and Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan.[31]

Halcyon

In 2017, Varian launched Halcyon. The system features unique dual-layer MLC that enables high modulation with low leakage for every field or arc. Halcyon is advertised to be intuitive, friendly and comfortable for clinical staff and patient alike. This is primarily done by automating several functions typically performed manually by radiographers, such as switching between treatment beams automatically. Additionally, Halcyon also features an automated machine performance check for daily LINAC quality assurance, which can speed up the checking of beam constancy and mechanical performance through the use of a phantom.[32]

However, while Halcyon does boast improved automation and workflow improvements which allow for faster patient treatment, these extra automation tasks can make occasionally make it more difficult for medical physicists to perform detailed Quality Assurance on LINAC performance. Nevertheless, automation in both quality assurance and clinical operation generally make the LINAC easier to operate by checkers and radiation therapists.

Proton Therapy

Varian manufactures the ProBeam Proton Therapy System, with current and planned installations at several sites globally.[33] These are an all pencil-beam scanning proton therapy system utilizing IMPT (intensity modulated proton therapy), which was developed with PSI of Switzerland.[34] Varian also develops medical software and radiology information system for proton treatment planning system.

Ethos Therapy

On September 16, 2019, during the 2019 American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting, being held Sept. 15–18 in Chicago, Varian announced Ethos therapy, an artificial intelligence (AI)-driven system designed to increase the capability, flexibility and efficiency of radiotherapy. This new system is designed to deliver an entire adaptive treatment in a typical 15-minute timeslot, from patient setup through treatment delivery.

Varian Medical Systems

History

Acquired companies

Products

Linear accelerators

Halcyon

Proton Therapy

Ethos Therapy

Litigation

Defamation case law

University of Pittsburgh

External links

References

Spin-off companies