AVATAR - Audio Visual Assisted Therapeutic Ambience for Radiotherapy
New technology developed at Stanford allows pediatric patients to undergo radiation therapy while watching videos, avoiding daily anesthesia. The technology uses a paper screen, translucent to radiation, and a pico projector to stream movies for our pediatric patients. In the first 6 months of use of the AVATAR system, more than 450 anesthesia administrations have been avoided, reducing the potential risks, side effects, and costs associated with daily anesthesia. Patients enjoy the technology and often don't want to interrupt their videos at the end of treatment each day. Parents report an overall improved experience of treatment and better physical and psychological wellbeing in their children treated using this technology. We believe that treatment experience matters, especially for our youngest patients, and are committed to making advances in this important area.
Dr. Susan Hiniker, MD, Karl Bush, PhD, Billy Loo, MD, PhD and Sarah Donaldson, MD
Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University
