Healthcare Industry News: Perfexion
News Release - October 9, 2006
Brain Surgery at its Most Precise: Leksell Gamma Knife(R) Perfexion(TM), from Elekta, Provides New Levels of Patient Comfort and Physician Convenience
Debuts with demonstrations and panel of international neurosurgeons on site at Congress of Neurosurgery in ChicagoCHICAGO, Oct. 9 (HSMN NewsFeed) -- A revolutionary remastering of the world's most proven radiosurgery tool to treat brain tumors, the new Leksell Gamma Knife® Perfexion(TM), from Elekta, debuts today at the Congress of Neurological Surgeon's (CNS) 2006 annual meeting in Chicago, IL.
Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion maintains all the gold-standard features of the pioneering radiosurgery system, Leksell Gamma Knife®, but adds improved, automated dosing and targeting so that physicians can non-invasively treat multiple brain lesions simultaneously -- in one single automated procedure, in one single day. This allows patients to more conveniently and quickly receive treatment while it also increases the number of cases a physician or hospital can treat.
Radiosurgery is a technique and technology that delivers therapeutic doses of radiation in a three-dimensional, defined target, at a defined volume, which protects surrounding tissues and structures because little if any radiation hits outside the target area. This makes radiosurgery devices such as Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion ideal for treatment of brain lesions.
Nearly 17,000 primary brain tumors and 170,000 cases of metastatic brain tumors occur annually in the U.S., according to the Journal of Clinical Oncology. A cancer patient's risk of developing brain metastases varies greatly by tumor type, but lung and breast cancers are two of the most common disease types that may lead to brain metastases. Approximately 20 percent of breast cancer patients will experience brain metastases. It is these patients who are typically well-suited to radiosurgery treatment.
"We are pleased that Elekta chose to introduce this revolutionary advancement in radiosurgery at this CNS meeting," said Douglas Kondziolka, M.D., M.S., Professor of Neurosurgery and Radiation Oncology, at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and President-Elect of CNS. "Such advanced technology provides even greater efficiency and improved options for patients with brain lesions who are candidates for radiosurgery."
Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion integrates advanced patient treatment and safety features. For example, the newly remastered dose delivery system is more flexible than ever so physicians can administer dose to all targets while the patient is still in the original treatment position.
"Since we have unprecedented flexibility, we can sculpt single, composite or hybrid shots of radiation at multiple lesions as well as very complex- shaped targets, even at the base of the skull," says Jason Sheehan, M.D., PhD and associate director of the University of Virginia's Gamma Knife Center, the first U.S. facility to purchase Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion. "We have eliminated the need for dry-runs, changes, repositioning or manual input, which makes the patient experience much easier."
Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion maintains the full clinical compatibility with the classic Leksell Gamma Knife and is supported by the efficacy and outcomes data of 400,000 treated patients worldwide and thousands of peer- reviewed scientific articles, making it the most proven choice for radiosurgery of the brain. At the same time, the improved design of Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion expands the clinical reach by 300 percent, providing a platform for further refinement within the brain, head, neck and cervical spine than earlier models.
Media Attending CNS
- Formal unveiling of Perfexion takes place, Monday, Oct. 9, 9:30 a.m.,
at the Elekta exhibit, CNS booth #553, Chicago's McCormick Place.
- Demonstrations of Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion will be performed twice
daily at the Elekta exhibit, beginning immediately after the 9:30 a.m.
launch.
- An international cadre of independent neurosurgeons who provided input
on re-engineering of the Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion, including
renowned neurosurgeon, Jean Regis, M.D., lead physician for the
system's first clinical installation at the University Hospital La
Timone, Marseille, France, are available for interviews and
information.
- Two Leksell Gamma Knife installations in the Chicago area - the
Neurologic and Orthopedic Institute of Chicago and Northwestern
University Medical Center may be available for photography or video
shoots.
- Contact Michelle Lee, Elekta Public Relations for arrangements and
interviews: 770.670.2447 or michelle.lee@elekta.com; or Kerry Lydon,
312.596.3468 or kerry.lydon@bm.com.
About Elekta
Elekta is an international medical technology group, providing meaningful clinical solutions, comprehensive information systems and services for improved cancer care and management of brain disorders. All of Elekta's solutions employ non-invasive or minimally invasive techniques and are therefore clinically effective, gentle on the patient and cost-effective.
Elekta's systems and solutions are used at over 4,000 hospitals around the world to treat cancer and manage clinical operations as well as to diagnose and treat brain disorders, including tumors, vascular malformations and functional disorders.
With approximately 2,000 employees worldwide, Elekta's corporate headquarters is located in Stockholm, Sweden and the company is listed on the Stockholm Stock Exchange under the ticker EKTab. Elekta's North American operations are headquartered in Atlanta, GA. For more information about Elekta, visit www.elekta.com
Source: Elekta
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