PALO ALTO, Calif., April 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian (NYSE:
VAR) today announced it is collaborating with Google Cloud to build
an advanced artificial intelligence (AI) based diagnostic platform
to aid in the fight against cancer. Varian and Google Cloud AI
embarked on a deployment journey, using Neural Architecture Search
(NAS) technology via Google Cloud AI Platform, to create AI models
for organ segmentation—a crucial and labor-intensive step in
radiation oncology that can be a bottleneck in the cancer treatment
clinical workflow.
Organ segmentation is the process of identifying the organs and
tissues in diagnostic images that must be targeted or protected
during a course of radiation therapy. These segmented images are
then used to create radiotherapy treatment plans that specify where
and how much dose will be deposited during treatment. This is a
labor-intensive process that can take a clinician hours per
patient. In some regions of the world, segmentation is a limiting
factor in cancer patients' access to advanced treatments like
intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) that require accurate organ
segmentation.
Varian is using Google Cloud AI Platform's NAS technology to
create an AI segmentation engine that is being "trained," using
Varian's proprietary treatment planning image data, to create
customized auto-segmentation models for organs in the body. Varian
intends to incorporate these models into its treatment planning
software tools for use in cancer centers around the world.
"At Varian, we are working towards a world without fear of
cancer, where high-quality cancer care—personalized and optimized
for each patient—is available everywhere. To that end, we have
committed ourselves to Intelligent Cancer Care™, which seeks to
automate routine or repetitive tasks in the radiation oncology
workflow through the use of smart algorithms, machine learning, and
AI," said Corey Zankowski, Senior
Vice President, Technology and Innovation Office, Varian. "This
collaboration with Google Cloud will turbocharge our efforts in
this area."
"At Google Cloud, we believe AI technology has the power to
impact a wide variety of industries, which is especially true in
the field of medicine," said Craig
Wiley, Director of Product Management, Google Cloud. "We are
excited to see how Varian accelerates AI innovation and
segmentation quality to improve cancer care with radiation therapy
using our state-of-the-art NAS technology. As Varian's AI platform
of choice, our teams are working closely to deliver best-in-class
AI for cancer treatment to patients around the world."
About Varian
At Varian, we envision a world without fear of cancer. For more
than 70 years, we have developed, built and delivered innovative
cancer care technologies and solutions for our clinical partners
around the globe to help them treat millions of patients each year.
With Intelligent Cancer Care™, we are harnessing advanced
technologies like artificial intelligence, machine learning and
data analytics to enhance cancer treatment and expand access to
care. Our 10,000 employees across 70 locations keep the patient and
our clinical partners at the center of our thinking as we power new
victories in cancer care, because, for cancer patients everywhere,
their fight is our fight. For more information, visit
http://www.varian.com and follow @VarianMedSys on Twitter.
Press Contacts
Aimee
Corso
Health+Commerce (for
Varian)
+1 (310)
780-2661
aimee@healthandcommerce.com
Investor Relations Contact
Anshul Maheshwari
Vice President, Investor Relations
+1 (650) 424-5631
investors@varian.com
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SOURCE Varian