Doctors Test Advanced Tool For Treating Prostate Cancer

Main Category: Prostate / Prostate Cancer
Article Date: 28 Oct 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Leading radiation oncologists are using the TargetScan Touch(TM) system to deliver radioactive seed therapy in the prostate. The innovative technology is based on a motionless probe which stabilizes the prostate during procedures. With the gland stabilized, physicians use a touch-screen interface and 3-D ultrasound images to map and confirm placement of radiation.

Unveiled recently at the 2008 American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO) annual meeting, the TargetScan Touch(TM) has been tested at several of the nation's leading medical centers, including Emory University School of Medicine.

"This technology delivers two important benefits. First, a stabilized prostate; second, the ability to quickly and efficiently image anywhere in the prostate with the point and click function for accurate positioning of radioactivity," explains Peter Rossi, M.D., Emory's assistant professor in the departments of radiation oncology and urology. "TargetScan has a short learning curve for my residents and physicists and has demonstrated its value in that we have consistently achieved quality implants with its help."

Just launched, the system will initially be in clinical use at Emory, Washington University Medical Center in St. Louis, University of Florida and New Hanover Radiation Oncology.

The system is based on the TargetScan(R) technology platform developed by Envisioneering Medical Technologies in St. Louis, under the guidance of physicians at Washington University. "Traditional hand-manipulated devices allow the prostate gland to shift, which impedes placement accuracy. By stabilizing the prostate, physicians can now implant seeds to any and every region of the gland with greater confidence," said Robert Mills, president, Envisioneering Medical Technologies.

Other system features include intuitive imaging and navigational controls and a compact, streamlined system design to enhance treatment efficiency, improve the patient experience and provide ease of transport for physicians managing multiple practice locations.

"The design of TargetScan Touch(TM) is straightforward to support ease of use and widespread adoption so that physicians and their patients can benefit from this new technology," added Mills. "The simplicity of the touch-screen technology saves time while producing detailed images and treatment reports for future patient monitoring."

TargetScan Touch Technical Features:

-- Motionless probe to prevent prostate movement and on-screen image distortion.

-- Mapping technology for complete prostatic coverage, assisting with accurate needle placement to pre-planned cancer targets and preferred treatment zones.

-- 3-D image acquisition to improve visibility, presenting both sagittal and transverse planes with a total viewing volume of 380 mL.

-- Touch-screen technology to improve treatment efficiency and patient experience.

About Envisioneering Medical Technologies

Envisioneering Medical Technologies, based in St. Louis, Mo., is dedicated to creating the standard for prostate cancer care by developing technology for improving prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment precision and effectively managing patients throughout the continuum of care. For more information please visit http://www.envisioneeringmedical.com.

Envisioneering Medical Technologies
http://www.envisioneeringmedical.com