As cancer care grows more complex, the ability to deliver timely, high-quality treatment increasingly depends on how efficiently care teams can work. As part of our mission to elevate health globally, we focus on streamlining clinical workflows and reducing friction across the care pathway – simplifying planning, accelerating decisions, and easing workforce strain so teams can focus on what matters most: patients.
The Eclipse treatment planning system is designed with this reality in mind. More than a powerful, fully integrated planning suite, Eclipse brings together intelligent automation, advanced modeling, and AI‑enabled tools that help clinical teams plan fast, work consistently, and adapt to growing demand without compromising precision.
In this Centerline Q&A, Eclipse product managers share how the latest release, Eclipse v18.1, is helping streamline treatment planning workflows across photon and proton therapy.
"The intent of this release was to help teams work more efficiently while delivering consistent, high‑quality care, especially in busy clinical environments."
Designed to reduce complexity, not add to it
Eclipse v18.1 helps enable flexibility, safety, and efficiency by bringing together an ecosystem of technologies that simplify planning workflows and support confident clinical execution. We asked Jeremy Hansen, Product Manager for Treatment Planning, to share how v18.1 impacts planners’ day to day.
Q: What are the main benefits for planners upgrading to Eclipse v18.1?
As a former medical physicist, I know how valuable it is when tools just work the way you expect them to. With v18.1, planners will immediately notice faster optimization, more accurate modeling, and smarter tools that streamline the entire planning process. The intent of this release was to help teams work more efficiently while delivering consistent, high-quality care, especially in busy clinical environments.
Q: What new feature excites you most, and why?
The first release of Enhanced Leaf Modeling (ELM) is a major milestone. It improves multileaf collimator accuracy – particularly for small fields – while also simplifying commissioning. That combination matters because it reduces setup burden while supporting advanced techniques like SBRT, SRS, and HyperArc for brain metastases. It’s a strong example of how we’re simplifying complexity while expanding capability.
Q: How does RapidArc Dynamic improve workflow efficiency?
RapidArc Dynamic* significantly reduces planning time while maintaining excellent organ‑at‑risk sparing. By combining the directional control of IMRT with the efficiency of VMAT through a dynamic collimator, RapidArc Dynamic enables planners to achieve high‑quality results faster. That time savings adds up, especially in departments under pressure to treat more patients with limited staff.
Q: Which features do you think will generate the most interest at ESTRO 2026?
I think customers will be interested in the upcoming enhancements to our AI contouring offering and the resulting workflow efficiencies enabled by fewer handoffs. The software supports both planners and physicians by contouring not only organs at risk but also brain metastases on MRI scans. In a clinical evaluation conducted at Acibadem University, physicians saved up to 15 minutes per patient when using the solution for brain metastases contouring,1 so this is something to look out for when at ESTRO.
Another feature would be RapidArc Dynamic. It directly addresses workflow pain points – speed, control, and consistency – while enabling advanced treatment techniques. It’s a great example of how we’re pushing efficiency forward without sacrificing quality.
Q: What feedback have you received from early adopters of v18.1?
The feedback has been extremely positive. Users consistently highlight improvements in optimization speed, planning techniques, and leaf model accuracy. Most importantly, they tell us these enhancements make their daily work easier and more predictable.
Q: How does v18.1 support integration across systems?
Workflow efficiency depends on connectivity. Version 18.1 is designed to integrate seamlessly across the Varian ecosystem – including ARIA CORE oncology management – and to work smoothly with validated third‑party systems. This reduces handoffs, minimizes rework, and supports consistent data flow across institutions.
"Innovation that saves time, reduces variability, and fits naturally into the clinical workflow is vital to better serving patients."
Streamlining proton planning from setup to delivery
To explore workflow efficiency in proton therapy, we spoke with Reynald Vanderstraeten, Product Manager for Proton Planning.
Q: What drives your focus on workflow innovation in treatment planning?
I see my role as translating clinical needs into practical solutions. Every day, we’re working to make planning in Eclipse simpler and smarter – whether for photon or proton therapy. Innovation that saves time, reduces variability, and fits naturally into the clinical workflow is vital to better serving patients.
Q: What is one Eclipse feature that meaningfully improves workflow efficiency for proton therapy?
RapidScan is a great example. Patient comfort is important, but so is throughput. RapidScan helps optimize proton dose delivery while significantly reducing treatment time. It gives planners flexibility to balance dose quality and speed – shortening time on the couch and easing scheduling pressure.
Q: How does AI help streamline proton planning?
AI plays a key role in improving consistency and efficiency. With RapidPlan for photons and protons, Eclipse uses machine learning to generate optimization goals automatically. This reduces manual planning effort, speeds up plan generation, and helps ensure plans meet departmental standards – without relying on trial and error.
Q: Which proton features will stand out at ESTRO 2026?
RapidScan will definitely draw attention, particularly with evidence showing treatment time reductions of approximately 50%.2 In addition, Eclipse compatibility with IBA’s Proteus®ONE platform – announced at ASTRO 2025 – supports smoother interoperability and more streamlined proton workflows.
Q: How does Eclipse help ensure data consistency across the radiotherapy workflow?
Workflow breakdowns often happen at system boundaries. Eclipse was built to connect everything – from CT setup notes to dual-energy CT support for Monte Carlo planning. A shared database with ARIA CORE promotes consistency, while DICOM Worklist and offline review tools reduce friction and keep teams aligned.
Q: Which feature excites you most personally?
AcurosPT. Bringing Monte Carlo‑based dose calculation and optimization into routine clinical use is a major step forward. It delivers high accuracy without adding workflow burden – something that was once considered out of reach for busy proton centers.
Efficiency that scales with demand
Eclipse v18.1 demonstrates how innovation can streamline clinical workflows in real-world practice – reducing complexity, accelerating planning, and supporting consistent execution across care teams. By combining intelligent automation, AI-driven planning, and seamless integration, Eclipse helps health systems do more with the resources they have – today and into the future.
Learn more about the Eclipse treatment planning system.
*RapidArc Dynamic is an optional feature.
- Tezcanli, E. Evaluation of a Deep Learning Contouring Algorithm for Target Delineation in HyperArc Radiosurgery, Webinar, October 2025; 10 patients, 82 lesions.
- Butkus M, Bastawros D, Yang Y, Cassetta R, Hytonen R, Kaderka R. Spot-optimization reduces beam delivery time in liver breath hold intensity modulated proton therapy. Phys Imaging Radiat Oncol. 2025 Apr 3;34:100763. doi: 10.1016/j.phro.2025.100763. PMID: 40255417; PMCID: PMC12008587.
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- Jeremy Hansen lives in Houston, Texas with his wife and son. He enjoys cycling, camping, and other outdoor activities. He earned his master's in physics from the University of North Texas and worked as a medical physicist for 13 years before joining Siemens Healthineers in 2017. For the past 6 years, Jeremy has been part of the product management team for treatment planning, where he enjoys helping to develop the very products he once used as a clinician.
- Reynald Vanderstraeten is a Belgium-based product manager at Siemens Healthineers and a medical physicist by background. He’s passionate about connecting clinical teams with the Eclipse proton engineering group to develop solutions that are robust, efficient, and accurate – driven by the challenges and inspiration shared by healthcare professionals.