Marketing, Author at Intamed

Ensuring the accuracy of treating brain tumours, with the ExacTrac Dynamic from Brainlab.

According to data from the World Health Organisation 262 445 South Africans are living with cancer, as of the 2020 Global Cancer Observation. From this staggering number of cancer patients, 13.4% of these instances are cases of brain cancer.

One of the most common treatment or supplementary treatment options for various cancer types is Radiotherapy. Radiotherapy uses high-energy particles or waves, such as X-rays to destroy or damage cancer cells. Modern radiation techniques exhibit precision by directing focused beams specifically at cancer cells, safeguarding surrounding healthy tissue from elevated levels of radiation exposure.

More than half of all patients with cancer receive radiotherapy. When specifically looking at brain cancer, radiation is typically used as a supplementary treatment post-surgery to kill any remaining cancer cells or relieve symptoms created by the tumour. In some cases, radiation is used as the primary treatment, when the brain tumour is situated in an inoperable location.

The benefits of Radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer include:

· Highly effective at killing the majority of cancer cells within a tumour.

· It may be the only treatment needed for small tumours, benign tumours and early-stage cancers.

· It kills isolated cancer cells that surgery could not detect.

· It shrinks tumours to make surgical removal more effective. Shrinking tumours with radiation can make surgery possible for formerly inoperable tumours.

· Treatment is painless.

· It reduces symptoms caused by cancer.

· It increases the patient’s quality of life by preventing organ removal, such as a breast or part of the digestive tract.

· Radiation may stimulate the body to develop an immune response to the tumour.

As with any other medical procedure, the equipment being used plays a vital role in the outcome of a patient’s health. Especially with treatments such as radiation, where the inaccurate use of equipment can lead to further health issues. Companies, such as Brainlab, specialise in developing medical equipment and technology to ensure the accuracy and effectiveness of patients’ treatment options. Solutions, such as their ExacTrac Dynamic Radiotherapy device is an excellent example of medical equipment and technology being used to improve patient care and outcomes.

This radiotherapy solution from Brainlab is acclaimed for its exceptional effectiveness and numerous benefits in the realm of cancer treatment. This advanced system harnesses cutting-edge technology to deliver precise and targeted radiotherapy for various types of brain tumours. Its dynamic capabilities enable real-time monitoring and adjustments during treatment sessions, to accommodate for patients’ adjusting their position or possible movement caused by patient breathing. This ensures optimal accuracy in irradiating cancerous cells while minimising radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissues. The suite’s integration of image-guided radiotherapy enhances treatment outcomes by providing detailed, high-resolution images to your oncologist for precise treatment planning. Additionally, the ExacTrac Dynamic contributes to improved patient comfort and reduced treatment times, ultimately enhancing the overall quality of care in the fight against cancer.

Compared to traditional radiotherapy technology, the ExacTrac Dynamic only targets tumours and cancerous cells rather than contaminating the entire organ being treated, with radiation. This provides patients with added peace of mind knowing that their treatment won’t be causing them any additional harm.

Intamed is a trusted and authorised Brainlab supplier and distributor in the Southern African region.

Blind 10-Year-Old Learns To Read Print With Help From OrCam MyEye

Hilda says that when her son, Ashton, was two months old, doctors told her he had a condition that caused blindness. Today, she says that Ashton, now 10, has limited vision in one eye and wears glasses for protection.

“Once I accepted that Ashton was blind, my main goal was to give Ashton a normal life with every opportunity in his path,” she says.

Hilda says she recently learned about the OrCam MyEye, a hands-free, voice-assisted technology specifically designed for people who are blind, visually impaired, or have reading challenges. Within three months of using the device, Hilda reports that Ashton, who is also studying Braille, has learned how to read print.

“For me, the OrCam MyEye read is a tool that can put people with dyslexia on an equal playing field.”

As the Vice-President of the Oregon Chapter of the International Dyslexia Association (IDA) Jared can see the huge value of an assistive device that helps break this barrier of words. OrCam Read enables anyone with a reading challenge to read any printed or digital text with a click. The only assistive tech that captures full pages at once, doesn’t require WIFI and it reads back in real-time.

“I was really proud because now I can do things independently,” says Ashton. “I also like that I can read and write for myself.”

Dr. Bryan Wolynski, an optometrist and OrCam spokesperson, says, “The technology in the device is life-changing. It’s able to read, does facial recognition, and you can also recognize products while shopping, as well as recognize money.”

Additionally, the new “Hey, OrCam” voice assistant lets users control features on the device hands-free and without the need for Wi-Fi.

Man With Dyslexia Says The OrCam Read Has Been A ‘Game Changer’ In His Life

Jared Blank is a marathon runner and a published author, but not everything was perfect at the beginning for him. Jared was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was just five years old which affected him immensely as a young boy. When working on school assignments he discovered that he struggles with tasks that took someone else one hour, which might take him three. But today, as a marathon winner and an author he can share how he overcame his obstacles thanks to assistive technology.

“For me reading a page is like running a 5K mile. A book is even a marathon”. As Jared moved through grades at school, he learned that academic success for himself would be a matter of hard work and endurance. He was told that graduation wasn’t a possibility and that he could not get any higher grades than C. He talks about the shame and self-doubt that came with it when he was taken out of the class to the resource room to go to extra tutoring, “When you are young, it feels like you didn’t belong.”

With the support of his family and community, Jared beat the odds. He graduated from USC and then went on to earn two Master’s degrees. Furthermore, Jared published a book where he talks about how dyslexia helped prepare him to run the world marathon challenge.

“For me, the OrCam read is a tool that can put people with dyslexia on an equal playing field.”

Thanks to OrCam Read Jared can read more freely. Access information easily and independently by himself with no need to rely on others. He can enjoy reading books, magazines, phone and computer screens with no struggle. Things like work and dating do not have their challenges anymore.

After using this device, Jared gladly shares with us that the device is a game changer for him saying OrCam helped him read and understand faster. With the OrCam Read Jared can read and hear the text, and observe what he is reading. Allowing him to process the information better.

“I wish I had this when I was in school. The OrCam Read has improved my life by making me more efficient. It puts people with Dyslexia on an equal playing field.” Jared Talks About His Journey on Dr Phil.

Comparing reading to running a 5K mile, Jared also adds that when he reads there’s a level of anxiety that he experiences. For example, when he is out with friends it’s a challenge for him to read restaurant menus and needs to be resourceful to handle the situation without people noticing. According to Dr Bryan Wolynski, Jared is only one of the millions of Americans who struggle with reading.

Running The Distance

Jared continues to consult numerous schools about the educational challenges of dyslexia and feels a real sense of responsibility to the dyslexia community. He sees the whole playing field, what students deal with, what families are going through, and the education system where he believes that the teachers are in it to help these students.

But even with the right training, you can only get to a certain point. When you need to function at a higher level, OrCam can be that bridge. It is his experience and challenges from his dyslexia that made him passionate about it and is one of his life’s goals to raise more awareness about dyslexia and help others and that includes informing others about how technology like the OrCam Read can change their life.

OrCam offers a solution and changes the game.

“If I could use it in school, I think it would have been like being in a Ferrari. Read and understand faster, and do much more.” Jared concluded.

Read Easily, Anywhere, Anytime

People with mild low vision, reading fatigue, reading difficulties including dyslexia, and anyone who consumes large amounts of text can benefit from the OrCam Read. The OrCam Read converts printed or digital text to audio, as well as entire pages at once.

This device empowers people with dyslexia and allows them to be more independent. The device is not only easy to use, but it’s also intuitive. Just like Jared demonstrated, simply point and press a button and give your command to the device where to start reading.

Jared says he was diagnosed with dyslexia when he was 5 years old. “Reading and writing were big challenges, so I felt lost,” he says. Despite having difficulty learning and reading, Jared says he went on to graduate from college and then earned two master’s degrees. Still, Jared says everyday tasks can be frustrating, and things like work and dating have their challenges.

“It is very exhausting when you have to put that much energy into getting one task done,” he says.

Dr Bryan Wolynski, a low vision optometrist and spokesperson for OrCam, says the company, which makes portable devices for vision assistance, has developed the OrCam Read specifically for people with reading challenges such as dyslexia, traumatic brain injury, low vision, and more.

“The OrCam Read allows anyone with a reading challenge to instantly read digital and printed text,” he says. “It’s the only assistive technology that allows full page capture which doesn’t require any WIFI, and also does it in real-time.”

The OrCam Read converts text into audio, enabling individuals who use the device to read anything they want.

“It’s been a game changer in my life,” says Jared. “The OrCam Read has helped me at work, and I’ve become more confident with doing everyday tasks.”

Intamed News | Neurologica Mobile CT Clinic

Mobile CT Clinic – Redefining Innovation

Aiming to bring life-saving low-dose lung screenings to under-served areas of the United States, NeuroLogica has partnered with Winnebago to provide access to a mobile CT clinic (computed tomography) across America.

According to the American Lung Association, approximately eight million people in the U.S. are at high risk for lung cancer and are eligible for screening. We are proud to increase accessibility to high-quality patient care, especially to those beyond a healthcare system’s immediate service area, to deliver low-dose lung screenings.

The Mobile CT Clinic Features:

BodyTom Elite, the world’s first mobile, is a battery-powered, full-body, 32-slice CT scanner.
Optional all-electric/zero-emission powertrains will be available through Winnebago’s partnership with Motiv Power Systems.
A Lithium-ion battery-based energy management system from Volta Power Systems, will replace the traditional generator for onboard power and reduce vehicle emissions.
Vehicle fitting and customization through Summit Bodyworks Specialty Vehicles, a Denver-based custom vehicle fitter.

Author name: Marketing

The benefits of Radiotherapy in the treatment of cancer include: