Abstract

To the Editor, I am writing regarding a recent scientific paper published in your journal (volume 34, number 2) with the title A study into the relationship between the measured penumbra and effective source size in the modeling of the Pinnacle RTPS [1]. Our concern is in relation to use of the word Pinnacle by the authors (both in the title and body of the article) without reference to the fact that it is a trade marked product owned by Philips Medical Systems. It is our understanding that the correct manner in which to refer to the product is Pinnacle acknowledging the software version and that it is a registered trade mark. Importantly for the purposes of your readers understanding the significance of the paper, the superscript 3 states and emphasises that this product utilised a three dimensional computational algorithm for calculating ionising radiation doses deposited in heterogeneous media by megavoltage photon beams, in particular when considering the scattering component[2]. Out of interest on this topic, we performed an on-line search of the APESM journal at the website of your official publisher Springer (http://www.springerlink.com/content/ ?k=Australasian?Physical?Sciences?and?Engineering? in?Medicine) in which we searched for uses of several common radiotherapy products. The results of our search (performed on 10 February 2012) indicated that the issue outlined above is not an isolated event—incorrect use of trade marks and commercial product names has occurred on many occasions in articles APESM has published between 2001 and 2011. While correct usage has sometimes occurred, the majority of uses are incorrect. The table below sets out our search results. We note that Pinnacle, GAFCHROMIC , XiO and Eclipse are registered trade marks of Philips Medical Systems Inc. Corporation California USA [3], ISP Investments Inc. Corporation Delaware USA [4], Elekta AB (pub) [5] and Varian Medical Systems Inc. Palo Alto California USA [6], respectively.

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call

Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.