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2006 - Celebrando Nuestro 30 Aniversario
Cuando mi padre y su socio inventaron el
Aquaplast® hace 30 años, el campo de la radioterapia se abrió a una
nueva manera de pensar en la inmovilización de pacientes. En el nuevo
milenio, con la aparición de las nuevas técnicas de Colimadores
Multiláminas (MLC), la Radioterapia de Intensidad Modulada (IMRT), la
Radioterapia Guiada por Imágenes (IGRT), y otras técnicas más, se están
abriendo otra vez nuevas posibilidades para mejorar el cuidado a los
pacientes. WFR-Aquaplast & Qfix Systems es Líder Mundial en reposicionamiento e inmovilización de pacientes en tratamientos de Oncológia Radioterapica, Aquaplast RT™ is the most recognized brand of radiotherapy patient immobilization thermoplastic in the US, and possibly the world. Invented in 1975, Aquaplast RT™ was the first low temperature thermoplastic to be used in the radiotherapy community. Aquaplast RT™ is used to create a rigid mask, or shell, that positions and immobilizes a patient during a radiotherapy procedure. |
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In early 2001, WFR/Aquaplast formed an alliance with a
nearby carbon fiber engineering and design firm. At that time this firm had a
great deal of experience in producing radiotranslucent products for the
diagnostic imaging industry, such as carbon fiber surgery tables, but had little
experience in producing radiotherapy treatment devices. WFR/Aquaplast had a good
understanding of what the radiation therapy community required for patient
immobilization, but had no way of bringing these ideas to fruition, as they had
previously relied on distributors to manufacture immobilization devices. This
alliance evolved into Qfix Systems LLC. Our most popular product produced under
this joint venture is the AccuFix™ Cantilever Board™ for IMRT treatment. This
patent pending device, first introduced at the 2002 AAPM meeting, is
revolutionary in that it seamlessly integrates shoulder depression into a head
and neck immobilization device. Before this board was available, therapists
would depress the patient's shoulders with ropes or straps or use large pieces
of thermoplastic to attempt to immobilize the shoulders. This integration of
shoulder suppression into a head board has quickly become the gold standard in
IMRT head and neck immobilization, and has since been copied by other players in
the industry. The AccuFix Cantilever Board is now used every day in hundreds of
cancer centers all over the world including 4 of the top 10 US News' "Best"
Cancer Hospitals. |