Wildbilly
9 years ago
Russell, Sigurd Varian's Klystron Launched Us Into High Frequency
- Investors.com
BY SHANA SMITH, FOR INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY
01:51 PM ET
As Russell and Sigurd Varian tested their klystron tube in 1939, the Palo Alto (Calif.) Times trumpeted, "New Stanford Radio Invention Heralds Revolutionary Changes."
Journalistic hyperbole?
More like the paper got it right.
Russell (left) and Sigurd Varian with their klystron tube, which broke the microwave barrier and boosted a revolution in cellphones, Wi-Fi and GPS.... View Enlarged Image
"The invention of the klystron in 1937 was the single most important event in the development of microwave (short radio wave) tube technology," wrote Norman Pond in "The Tube Guys." "The klystron directly led to the invention of microwave radar. ... This capability became the Allies' single most important technological advantage during (World War II) and directly affected the outcome."
"The (klystron) tube was the first practical source of microwaves, and its invention initiated a search for increasingly more powerful sources, which continues to this day," wrote George Caryotakis in his 1997 paper "The Klystron: A Microwave Source of Surprising Range and Endurance."
That search led to microwave-based technology in cellphones, GPS devices, Wi-Fi and microwave ovens. Today the klystron tube can boost signals so much, they can be transmitted to other planets.
"Klystrons ... amplify low power microwave signals up to higher power, much higher power," Bob Fickett, president of Communications & Power Industries, formerly Electron Devices Business of Varian Associates, told IBD. "The amplification can be as high as 100,000 times the level of the input signal."
Big Connection
Varians' Keys
They combined problem solving, knowledge of physics, mechanical skills and entrepreneurial drive to invent the klystron microwave amplifier.
Overcame: Poverty, dyslexia, serious illnesses.
Lesson: Vision and collaboration of complementary skill sets can produce next-level results.
"Sig had been the other party to Russell's thought processes for so many years that he was one of the few people who could follow his reasoning and could build just about anything Russell proposed. They made an extraordinary team," said Dorothy Varian.
Michael Fazio, associate director at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory in Menlo Park, Calif., said: "Klystrons are the high-power RF (radio frequency) source of choice where nothing else will work. We depend heavily on radar systems and satellite systems powered by klystrons."
Fickett notes some of the projects for which CPI makes klystrons:
• Satellite broadcast systems of major TV and Internet providers.
• Radar systems aboard satellites such as NASA's CloudSat Earth observation vehicle.
• Military radar systems, such as Aegis, Phalanx and Hawk.
• Scientific linear accelerators (linacs) such as the Linac4 used at the European Organization for Nuclear Research on the Large Hadron Collider. This generates subatomic-particle collisions to help physicists understand matter and the origins of the universe.
• Varian Medical Systems' High Energy Clinac radiation therapy machines for cancer treatment.
All from an invention by brothers who are hardly household names.
Russell (1898-1959) and Sigurd (1901-61) Varian were the eldest sons of Irish immigrants.
Russell was born in Washington, D.C., and Sig in Syracuse, N.Y.
By 1902, it was westward for the Varians — to Palo Alto, Calif.
Early on, the family nurtured plans for Russell — the thinker — to invent something that Sigurd — the tinkerer — would build.
The example of an uncle, who had patented photolithographic processes, served as inspiration.
"For boys like Sig and Russell, who were from a poverty-stricken background, inventing something that would make money for them seemed like the only way to really get ahead," wrote Russell's wife, Dorothy Varian, in "The Inventor and the Pilot."
Though curious and with an excellent memory, Russell was dyslexic. Teased as ignorant by classmates, he failed four grades.
A Stanford University professor helped him overcome his disability, but Russell always read slowly.
Russell was nearly 17 when he started high school, 21 when he entered Stanford. After flunking a key exam, he was bedridden with a serious infection, then worked to pay hospital bills. He finally finished his undergraduate degree at 27.
After completing his master's in physics, Russell looked for six months before landing a job. His first patent came for a device that located oil. Then he hooked up with TV inventor Philo Farnsworth, patenting 11 inventions.
Sigurd's route was through California Polytechnic State University. After dropping out, he joined Southern California Edison, worked on power lines, spotted an airfield, bought a plane, became a barnstormer and by age 28 was in Mexico flying for Pan Am.
All the while, the Varian boys corresponded about inventions.
In 1935, Sig moved with his family back to California, and soon the brothers had a solid idea. Sig's flights over unmapped terrain had pinpointed the need for safer navigation instruments. And flying near the Panama Canal got him worried about that strategic area's vulnerability to enemy air attack.
Russell knew that a system to locate airplanes or navigate in low visibility required high-frequency (short) radio waves because increasing a wave's frequency increases its transmission accuracy.
The Answer
But how to produce high power at high frequency?
Fortunately, his friend Bill Hansen already had invented a resonator for this and let Russell use it in what became the klystron.
In exchange for splitting any returns on their invention, Stanford gave the Varians $100 in materials, plus access to a lab, equipment and faculty consultation.
In June 1937, Russell hit on the klystron's key: the velocity grouping principle of electrons. He compared it to cars bunching and flowing in traffic, and it solved the problem of high-frequency failure.
After Hansen and the brothers worked out math and design issues, Sig built the device. By August, Sig had it working, demonstrating their invention's validity.
The klystron needed more money and better equipment for improvements. And the Varians, living off their savings, needed pay.
Stanford made a deal with Sperry Corporation for exclusive klystron patent rights in exchange for annual research-and-development grants of up to $25,000. Russell and Sig got $208 a month ($3,430 today).
By 1941, Sperry moved most klystron research to Long Island. The Varians, Hansen and other klystron researchers relocated to New York for six years.
British scientists who read about the Varians' klystron then developed a transmitter for airplanes: the cavity magnetron.
Beating The Axis
Microwave radar was crucial in the Allies' World War II victory, giving them an edge over Nazi and Japanese capabilities.
In "The Invention That Changed the World," Robert Buderi noted that after the Germans analyzed a microwave aerial set from a downed British plane in 1943, Luftwaffe commander Hermann Goering declared, "We must frankly admit that in this sphere the British and Americans are far ahead of us. I expected them to be advanced, but frankly I never thought they would get so far ahead."
While working at Sperry during and after the war, Sig in particular paid attention to klystron projects too small for Sperry, but perfect for a startup company.
In 1948, he, Russell, Hansen and a few other researchers founded Varian Associates in California with $23,000 in equipment and startup capital. Soon they secured a contract for making klystrons for use in guided missiles.
Russell landed 69 patents, 40 related to the klystron. An avid outdoorsman, he died of a heart attack on a 1959 trip to Alaska. He was 61.
Two years later, Sig was flying equipment to his second home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, when his plane crashed in an emergency landing. He was 60.
A remarkable partnership ended, but the Varians' legacy endures.
Varian Associates, which developed four main divisions, grew to $1.5 billion in annual sales by 1998.
Its device group operates today as CPI, with annual revenue of $420 million.
In 2009, Agilent Technologies (NYSE:A) acquired instrument maker Varian Inc. for $1.5 billion. In 2011, Applied Materials (NASDAQ:AMAT) bought Varian Semiconductor for $5 billion.
Varian Medical Systems (NYSE:VAR), which uses klystrons in radiation therapy devices, had $3 billion in sales last year.
"The klystron is responsible for curing many cases of cancer each year and has helped NASA put men on the moon," said Fickett. "Klystrons were essential in discovering the Higgs boson (a subatomic particle that physicists theorize gives our world form). These things would not have been possible without the klystron."
http://news.investors.com/071315-761329-varian-brothers-invented-klystron-and-launched-microwave-revolution.htm
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Wildbilly
9 years ago
Surgical Robots Market Worth $20 Billion by 2021
The Surgical Robots Market Shares, Strategies and Forecasts, Worldwide, 2015 to 2021 research report says surgical robot device markets at $3.2 billion in 2014 are anticipated to reach $20 billion by 2021 as next generation devices, systems, and instruments are introduced to manage surgery through small ports in the body instead of large open wounds.
Complete report on surgical robots market spread across 553 pages, talking about 50+ companies and supported with 216 tables and figures is now available at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/surgical-robots-market-shares-strategies-and-forecasts-worldwide-2015-to-2021-market-report.html .
This 2015 surgical robots market research says robots bring new automated processes to all segments and worldwide surgical robot markets are poised to achieve significant growth as next generation systems provide a way to improve traditional open surgery and decrease the number of ports needed for minimally invasive surgery. Intuitive Surgical has market leadership position, advanced technology, an impressive installed base and a well-trained group of surgeons able to manage the robots.
Other leading competitors will emerge in the surgical robots market and the group of several surgical robotic companies will collectively have enough marketing dollars and enough marketing clout to drive replacement of all open surgery. Robotic surgery is positioned to become the standard of care. The leading robotic surgical companies are poised to grow through acquisition, purchasing smaller companies that have developed as specialized product and gained FDA approval. A surgical robot recurring revenue model business model is essentially large one time purchase for a system complimented by replaceable or disposable instruments that cumulatively market a much larger and ongoing market. Vendors make money from the one time sale of a system and recurring revenue from sale of devices used in every operation.
Initially, a vendor sells and installs the surgical system into new customer accounts. Once systems are sold into customer accounts, the vendor generates recurring revenue as our customers use the system to perform surgery. To do surgeries, the customers need to buy and consume instruments and accessory products. Vendors also generate recurring revenue from system service. The ability to deliver such an accurate dose of radiation means that the cancer can be eradicated in patients before the patient is administered a lethal dose of radiation. This represents a cure for cancer once it gets working according to the promise of the systems now in place.
Companies mentioned in this research include Intuitive Surgical, Accuray, Stryker / Mako, Hansen Medical, Medrobotics, Freehand 2010, Accel Spine, Accuray, Aesynt / Health Robotics, Alliance Spine, Alphatec Spine, Amedica, Apollo Spine, Ascendx Spine, AVRA Surgical, Back 2 Basics Spine, Captiva Spine, Centinel Spine, Corindus, Elekta AB, Freehand, Globus Medical, Hansen Medical, Healthcare Robotics Lab, Intuitive Surgical, Johnson and Johnson / DePuy Synthes, K2M, Lanx / EBI Holdings / BioMet /, LDR, Life Spine, Mazor Robotics, Medrobotics, Medtronic, NLT Spine, NuVasive, Otto Bock HealthCare, RTI Biologics / Pioneer Surgical Technology, Precision Spine, Restoration Robotics, SI-BONE 503, Spinal Elements, Spineart, SpineGuard, Spine Frontier, , Spineology, Spine Smith Partners, Spine Surgical Innovations, Spine View, Spine Wave, Stryker / MAKO Surgical, Think Surgical, Titan Medical, TranS1, UC Berkeley, Varian Medical Systems., Vecna Robotics, Victrex plc / Invibio, Vycor, Wenzel Spine, X-spine and Zyga Technology. Order a copy of this research on surgical robots market at http://www.rnrmarketresearch.com/contacts/purchase?rname=384100 .
The Accuray radiation systems that address the oncology market are perhaps the most exciting technology ever offered to any market. Because the systems are able to control the dose of radiation Amount of activity in the market, many companies, FDA approvals, way for existing vendors to improve footprint in market. The automated process revolution in surgery and communications is being implemented via robots. Robots automation of systems is providing significant improvement in the accuracy of surgery and the repeatability of process. Existing open surgery can be replaced in large part by robotic minimally invasive surgery (MIS) during the forecast period. Minimally invasive robotic surgery, new robotic radiation treatment, and emerging robotic surgical approaches complement existing surgery techniques. Soon, all surgery will be undertaken with at least come aspects of robotic surgery replacing or complementing open surgery.
The aging US population has supported demand, since the occurrence of health issues that require medical devices is higher in the elderly population. Buoyed by strong demand and sales, industry profit margins have increased considerably during the past five years. Hospitals are adopting robotic surgical devices to improve their outcomes numbers. Hospitals are measured on outcomes, robots for surgery, when used by a trained physician are improving outcomes significantly. Hundreds of universities worldwide have research programs in robotics and many are awarding degrees in robotics. These "roboticists" are increasingly being hired by Global 2000 organizations to link mobile robots (mobile computers) into existing IT systems. Compared with other minimally invasive surgery approaches, robot-assisted surgery gives the surgeon better control over the surgical instruments and a better view of the surgical site. Surgeons no longer have to stand throughout the surgery and do not tire as quickly. Hand tremors are filtered out by the robot's computer software. The surgical robot can continuously be used by rotating surgery teams.
http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/surgical-robots-market-worth-20-billion-by-2021-504699701.html
Wildbilly
9 years ago
Varian Receives FDA 510(k) Clearance for Calypso®
Soft Tissue Beacon® Transponder - Jul 21, 2014
New clearance expands the indications for which clinicians will be able to use Varian's Calypso real-time tracking device for monitoring motion during radiotherapy treatments for cancer
Jul 21, 2014
PALO ALTO, Calif., July 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Varian Medical Systems (NYSE: VAR) today announced that it has received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a Calypso® soft tissue Beacon® transponder that can help enhance the precision of radiotherapy and radiosurgery treatments for cancer.
The size of a grain of rice, the new transponders can be implanted within soft tissue throughout the body, with the exception of the lung. The Calypso GPS for the Body® system can then continuously track and monitor the position of the transponders, so that the high energy treatment beams can be precisely aimed to minimize exposure of surrounding healthy tissues. An earlier version of the Calypso Beacon transponder was cleared for use specifically in the prostate and prostatic bed; the new clearance makes the system applicable for many other types of cancer.
Calypso Beacon transponders emit a non-ionizing electromagnetic signal that is tracked in real time by the Calypso system, in order to guide treatment beams to precisely target tumors during radiotherapy and radiosurgery with medical linear accelerators, such as Varian's Edge™ radiosurgery system.
"With the new transponder, clinicians can use the Calypso system most places they would have used standard fiducial markers, such as gold seeds, to localize a targeted tumor, but with the added benefit of continuous tumor position tracking throughout treatment delivery," said Andrea Morgan, Calypso product manager. "Other types of fiducial markers have to be localized using X-rays, which add more ionizing radiation to the process. We're pleased to be able to make the system available to clinicians who want to use it more broadly, not just for conventional radiotherapy but for some of the newer approaches, like stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), which involves delivering higher radiation doses very quickly. For treatments like that, accurate targeting is essential, and the new Calypso transponders have an important role to play."
"I have been using standard fiducial markers, particularly when treating tumors of the pancreas and liver," said Mary Feng, MD, associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at the University of Michigan. "It is essential that we know exactly where the tumor is at all times, and that we have a way of responding if the tumor moves during treatment. I'm excited about the prospect of using the Calypso tracking system treating in areas where it is very hard to see the tumor because of the lack of contrast with surrounding soft tissues."
The new Calypso soft tissue Beacon transponders can only be used with the latest upgrade of the Varian Calypso system (version 3.0). Current Calypso Beacon transponders for the prostate are not appropriate for the new soft tissue indication due to device and labeling differences. "Initial use of the new device is expected towards the end of the year," said Corey Zankowski, vice president of product management at Varian. "We anticipate full commercial roll-out of the product sometime next year."
Calypso soft tissue Beacon transponders are cleared for the U.S. market only.
Calypso System Intended Use Summary
The Calypso System, including its associated Beacon transponders, is intended to align and/or monitor the patient's position in relation to the radiation beam used for treatment. The Calypso System may also be used to regulate the treatment beam on Varian and Siemens radiation delivery systems by turning the beam on and off ("gating" it) due to movement during treatment. Beacon transponders used as part of the Calypso System for monitoring patient motion are indicated for use on the skin surface for temporary external placement and for permanent implantation, specifically in the prostate and prostatic bed as well as in soft tissue. Beacon transponders are not intended for use in the lung.
Calypso Safety Information
Implanted Beacon transponders may migrate such that they pass from the patient's body or move to a different location within the body. The most frequent side effects associated with implantation of Beacon transponders are typically temporary and may include, but are not limited to, pain, bleeding, and infection. In some patients, these side effects may be serious. Use of the Calypso System and its associated Beacon transponders is not appropriate for all patients.
About Varian Medical Systems
Varian Medical Systems, Inc., of Palo Alto, California, is the world's leading manufacturer of medical devices and software for treating cancer and other medical conditions with radiotherapy, radiosurgery, and brachytherapy. The company supplies informatics software for managing comprehensive cancer clinics, radiotherapy centers and medical oncology practices. Varian is a premier supplier of tubes, digital detectors, and image processing workstations for X-ray imaging in medical, scientific, and industrial applications and also supplies high-energy X-ray devices for cargo screening and non-destructive testing applications. Varian Medical Systems employs approximately 6500 people who are located at manufacturing sites in North America, Europe, and China and approximately 70 sales and support offices around the world. For more information, visit http://www.varian.com or follow us on Twitter.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements in this press release regarding future business, events, plans, objectives, expectations, estimates, and other similar matters, including, but not limited to, statements using the terms "will be able to," "can help," "can be," "can use," and "is expected," and "we anticipate," constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements contained in this press release are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated, including, but not limited to, the risks described in the company's Annual Report on Form 10-K and other reports filed from time to time by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements represent the Company's judgment as of the date of this press release. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise these forward-looking statements because of new information, future events, or otherwise.
FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:
Varian Medical Systems, United States
Meryl Ginsberg, 650.424.6444
meryl.ginsberg@varian.com
SOURCE Varian Medical Systems
http://bit.ly/1dJpfRQ
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Wildbilly
9 years ago
Varian Medical Systems, Inc. (VAR) Cutting Edge
First time treatment at James Graham Brown Center giving doctors the cutting edge on liver cancer
From WDRB 41 Louisville News
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Juanita Simpson found out just weeks ago she has liver cancer and she is not a candidate for chemotherapy or surgery.
But the 76-year-old Greensburg, Ky., resident says she still feels like she has won the lottery.
That's because she lives just over an hour from the James Graham Brown Cancer Center, which just became the first in the nation to use a cutting edge treatment. It's giving doctors, for the first time, a clear shot at curing liver cancer without surgery.
The $4 million machine that does it is called Calypso.
"Before this, we just kind of said, 'You know there's not a lot we can do. We can kind of keep things at bay for a period of time, but likely it's going to come back and cause you problems,'" said Dr. Neal Dunlap, a radiation oncologist with U of L Physicians.
So, what's different? Radio frequency markers about the size of a grain of rice are injected into a tumor. They act as a sort of GPS, allowing doctors to keep a constant eye on a tumor's location during radiation treatment.
"The liver moves a lot as the patient breathes," U of L medical physicist Josh James said. "So, it's very important that we know where the tumor is within the liver while we're treating. And, we really couldn't do that before. We had to treat a much larger area, so that as the tumor moved around, we had to make sure it was within the radiation field. Now we can shrink that area that we're treating, because we now exactly where the tumor is at all times."
Two cameras interact with the array portion of the Calypso, and if the tumor ever moves out of the area it needs to be, the radiation beam automatically shuts off.
This new technology in the Calypso allows doctors to use a much stronger dose of radiation, but still spare surrounding tissue -- meaning few, if any, side effects.
"Now we're kind of turning things on its head, and we're talking about, 'Hey we have a curative technology that doesn't involve surgery,'" said Dr. Dunlap.
For Juanita, it means real hope that her liver cancer will soon be gone. So she can go back to enjoying her grandchildren and great grandchildren.
"And I can get out and work my flowers, whatever," She said happily.
Juanita is the second person to undergo the treatment.
The first patient, a man, also saw good results. Although, in both cases, doctors have to wait to see if they got the entire tumor.
Hopes are to get FDA approval to use this on other diseases, like lung cancer.
Treatments in other countries have eliminated lung tumors in 90 percent of patients.
http://bit.ly/1HDa48M
buhg1b
17 years ago
"...Wall Street took a mostly positive view of the company's results, with several saying the newly approved RapidArc radiation therapy system will likely drive growth during the year. Other healthy indicators include revenue growth from the company's other units, which sell X-ray and security inspection products.
"We expect U.S. and worldwide cancer incidence to continue to rise, thereby driving continued demand for sophisticated cancer therapies," Citi analyst Amit Bhalla said in a note to investors. "Currently, about 50 percent of all cancer patients receive some form of radiation therapy during an overall treatment and we expect demand to persist going forward."
That demand helped fuel the company's 12 percent profit jump during the first quarter and its expectations for continued earnings and sales growth. In 2008, the company expects profit between $2.05 and $2.07 per share on about $2.03 billion in revenue, while Wall Street forecasts profit of about $2.05 per share on $1.97 billion in revenue.
Bhalla reaffirmed his "Buy" rating on the stock, but cut his price target to $61 from $62, citing higher expense expectations. He said cancer therapy systems remain the focus for the company, with 14 Novalis radiosurgery systems ordered during the quarter and one RapidArc system. But X-ray system orders rose 11 percent and will likely continue growing as digital imaging technology becomes more important in the field.
There is also potential for security systems growth if port security becomes a priority for the U.S. government, he said. The systems are used to scan shipping containers.
Oppenheimer & Co. analyst Amit Hazan also said the company is poised for continued growth in each of its units, reaffirming an "Outperform" rating with a $59 price target. He said Varian remains a top pick for the medical equipment sector, as the company has posted double-digit growth three straight quarters in its cancer treatment unit.
He said the addition of RapidArc will likely help the company sustain its current contracts and reel in new contracts it may have lost to competitors. Also, the company's security systems don't have any direct competition, meaning Varian could see a contract windfall from the U.S. and other governments.
Despite the broader positive outlook, Jefferies & Co. analyst Mark Richter remains cautious on the stock, reaffirming a "Hold" rating and reducing his price target to $42 from $45. His main concern is whether more competition will cut into Varian's order growth.
RapidArc provides a competitive technology, he said, but gains may not be realized in the near term. Rivals TomoTherapy Inc., Accuray Inc., and Elekta could stifle Varian's growth with additional products on the market. Also, RapidArc's growth could be slow going because of physician concerns over limited experience and debugging issues with the new technology.
"Our channel checks indicate that although many clinicians are interested in Varian's RapidArc technology, many are waiting for end user experience and clinical data prior to investing," he said in a note to investors..."
Thursday January 24, 7:31 pm ET
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080124/varian_medical_mover.html?.v=2
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