Varian Medical Systems of Palo Alto, California, USA, is a radiation oncology treatments and software maker. Their medical devices include linear accelerators 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 is a supplier of tubes and digital detectors for X-ray imaging in medical diagnostics, dentistry, veterinary care, scientific, security, industrial inspection including high-energy X-ray technology for cargo screening. Varian Medical Systems employs more than 7,100 people at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sites globally.
Varian Medical Systems has acquired other companies including Pan-Pacific Enterprises, ACCEL Instruments, Bio-Imaging Research, Inc. Sigma Micro Informatique Conseil, Argus Software, Dosetek Oy, Velocity Medical Solutions. and MeVis Medical Solutions AG In January 2018, the company announced the acquisition of Sirtex Medical for $1.3 billion. In 2019, the company acquired CyberHeart, a privately-held company with intellectual property that covers the use of radiation in the heart and other forms of radiosurgery for cardiovascular disease.
Spin-off companies
30.01.2017 spin-off of Varex Imaging Corporation from Varian Medical Systems had been successfully completed.
Products
Linear accelerators
Varian manufactures a range of megavoltageLINACs with varying levels of features and complexity, for example different numbers of multileaf collimators or the ability to perform radiosurgery. TrueBeam is a radiotherapy system. The EDGE radiosurgery suite was launched in 2012. The first cancer centers to use the new system were the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal and Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, Michigan.
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 engineered ergonomically to be intuitive, friendly and comfortable for clinical staff and patient alike. This human centered approach means there are fewer parts and protocol for staff to worry about, more time freed up to advance clinical capabilities, and most importantly, more opportunities to provide the highest level of care for every patient.
Varian manufactures the ProBeam Proton Therapy System, with current and planned installations at several sites globally. These are an all pencil-beam scanning proton therapy system utilizing IMTP, which was developed with PSI of Switzerland. Varian also develops medical software and radiology information system for proton treatment planning system.
Ethos Therapy
September 16, 2019 — At the 2019 American Society for Radiation Oncology annual meeting, being held Sept. 15-18 in Chicago, Varian announced Ethos therapy, an artificial intelligence -driven holistic solution designed to increase the capability, flexibility and efficiency of radiotherapy. This new solution is designed to deliver an entire adaptive treatment in a typical 15-minute timeslot, from patient setup through treatment delivery.
Litigation
Free speech
In 1999 Varian Medical Systems, Inc. sued a former employee for defamation in Varian v. Delfino. The terminated employee Dr. Michelangelo Delfino posted numerous messages criticizing the company on the Internet. The case finally settled on undisclosed terms. The lawsuit itself was controversial, heavily publicized, and led to a landmark ruling about California's anti-SLAPP statute. Some market-based workers rights activists uphold Delfino as an example because he mortgaged his house to pay his legal bills related to the lawsuit with Varian.
On April 25, 2012 a US federal judge in Pittsburgh awarded attorney fees, costs, and doubled damages totaling $73.6 million to the University of Pittsburgh after the university won a suit on medical patent infringement grounds against Varian.
