Elekta wins iF Design Award 2018 for its Elekta MR-linac
Published on: 9th March 2018
Award affirms Elekta’s commitment to placing patients and physicians at the center of the design process.
STOCKHOLM, March 9, 2018 – Elekta (EKTA-B.ST) and DCA Design International Ltd are the winners of this year’s iF DESIGN AWARD, a world-renowned design prize, for Elekta’s MR-linac (commercially named “Elekta Unity”). Elekta’s MR-linac is the only radiation therapy delivery system that integrates precision radiation dosing (state-of-the-art linear accelerator) with high-field, 1.5 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging – the industry standard in diagnostics.
The iF International Forum Design GmbH, based in Hannover, Germany, organizes the iF DESIGN AWARD, which is among the most prestigious and largest design competitions in the world. A 63-member jury made up of independent experts from around the world selected Elekta’s MR-linac from more than 6,400 entries from 54 countries. Elekta’s MR-linac received the award in the Healthcare category.
“We are extremely proud to have received this recognition of our success. Elekta’s MR-linac system is truly groundbreaking because it overcomes the technical barriers that have hindered the integration of radiation therapy with real-time high-field imaging,” says Elekta CEO, Richard Hausmann. “It is the first system that provides the ability to ‘see what you treat’ with diagnostic image quality during treatment and respond based on what is being seen, offering the potential to personalize therapy for each patient.”
“Even as we concentrated on addressing the technical challenges of integrating these technologies, we maintained our focus on how patients and physicians would experience the MR-linac system, which is at the core of how Elekta designs its products and services.”
In 2012, Elekta engaged DCA Design International as the company’s design partner for its MR-linac system. DCA worked with Elekta to create a future vision for the industrial design and usability of Elekta’s MR-linac system.
“It was a real pleasure for DCA to work with Elekta’s project team on such a game changing development in the treatment of cancer. The design of Elekta’s MR-linac was an extensive project that drew on many aspects of our service and it is great to see the system awarded such a prestigious design accolade,” said Rob Woolston, Managing Director, at DCA Design International. “The future vision for this transformative system was informed by a detailed evidence base and grounded with collaborative technical review. A body of evidence was collected from visits to seven treatment sites worldwide, over 90 hours of observations (approximately 360 treatment sessions) and more than 50 in-depth interviews with health care professionals, thought-leaders and system stakeholders.”
“Throughout the engagement, Elekta clearly demonstrated a commitment to evidence-based decision-making, placing the needs of the patients and health care professionals firmly at the center of their vision for the future of radiotherapy. With multiple research devices now operational in leading cancer centers worldwide, Elekta’s MR-linac is creating a step change in cancer care that we are very proud to have been a part of.”
Elekta’s MR-linac is a work in progress and not available for sale or distribution.
For further information, please contact:
Oskar Bosson, Global EVP Corporate Communications and Investor Relations
Tel: +46 70 410 7180, e-mail: Oskar.Bosson@elekta.com
Time zone: CET: Central European Time
Michelle Joiner, Director, Global Media Relations
Tel: +1 770 670 2447, e-mail: michelle.joiner@elekta.com
Time zone: ET: Eastern Time
About Elekta
Elekta is proud to be the leading innovator of equipment and software used to improve, prolong and save the lives of people with cancer and brain disorders. Our advanced, effective solutions are created in collaboration with customers, and more than 6,000 hospitals worldwide rely on Elekta technology. Our treatment solutions and oncology informatics portfolios are designed to enhance the delivery of radiation therapy, radiosurgery and brachytherapy, and to drive cost efficiency in clinical workflows. Elekta employs 3,600 people around the world. Headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, Elekta is listed on NASDAQ Stockholm. www.elekta.com
About DCA Design international Ltd
Founded in 1960 DCA is one of the world’s leading product design and development consultancies. DCA operates across four market sectors: ‘Medical and Scientific’, ‘Consumer’, ‘Commercial and Industrial’, and ‘Transport’, providing a multidisciplinary design and development service focused on helping our clients achieve success through great product design. www.dca-design.com
