Courtesy of EDAP TMS AS
First U.S. training center for Ablatherm HIFU established at USC
December 11, 2015
by Lauren Dubinsky, Senior Reporter
EDAP TMS AS announced yesterday the first installation of the Ablatherm Robotic High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) system at the University of Southern California. The site will be the first reference and training center for the system — which is designed to treat prostate cancer — in the U.S.
Late last week, the FDA fully approved the use of HIFU for the treatment of prostate cancer, which came after over 10 years of clinical trials investigating the technology. Since obtaining CE Mark in Europe in 1999, over 40,000 patients around the world have had HIFU treatments.
“FDA clearance of HIFU is a tremendous milestone for the urology community,” Dr. Inderbir Gill, professor and chairman, USC Institute of Urology at Keck Medicine of the USC, said in a statement. “We are delighted to be the first in the U.S. to treat patients on a routine basis with the Ablatherm Robotic HIFU, on December 10 and 11, 2015. We look forward to helping appropriate patients using this groundbreaking technology, thus opening new options and horizons for prostate ablation procedures."
The Ablatherm HIFU device precisely targets the tumor through a computer-controlled rectal probe and the ultrasound waves then destroys the prostate tissue with no damage to the surrounding organs. It’s intended in stage T-1 or T-2 of organ-confined prostate cancer and can be used to treat patients who were not effectively treated with radiation therapy.
Maple Leaf HIFU, which is located on the 30th floor of Cleveland Clinic Canada, has the most experience treating prostate cancer patients with the Ablatherm HIFU in North America. Patients from both the U.S. and Canada come to the facility to be treated.
"Ablatherm HIFU has the best patient safety outcomes by far and cure rates are excellent,” Dr. William Orovan, the lead urological surgeon at Maple Leaf HIFU, said in a statement. “Side effects of HIFU, including incontinence and erectile dysfunction, are much less than traditional surgery or radiation."
Prostate cancer is the number one cancer that affects men in North America, according to the American Cancer Society. In 2015, 200,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 25,000 will die.
Late last week, the FDA fully approved the use of HIFU for the treatment of prostate cancer, which came after over 10 years of clinical trials investigating the technology. Since obtaining CE Mark in Europe in 1999, over 40,000 patients around the world have had HIFU treatments.
“FDA clearance of HIFU is a tremendous milestone for the urology community,” Dr. Inderbir Gill, professor and chairman, USC Institute of Urology at Keck Medicine of the USC, said in a statement. “We are delighted to be the first in the U.S. to treat patients on a routine basis with the Ablatherm Robotic HIFU, on December 10 and 11, 2015. We look forward to helping appropriate patients using this groundbreaking technology, thus opening new options and horizons for prostate ablation procedures."
The Ablatherm HIFU device precisely targets the tumor through a computer-controlled rectal probe and the ultrasound waves then destroys the prostate tissue with no damage to the surrounding organs. It’s intended in stage T-1 or T-2 of organ-confined prostate cancer and can be used to treat patients who were not effectively treated with radiation therapy.
Maple Leaf HIFU, which is located on the 30th floor of Cleveland Clinic Canada, has the most experience treating prostate cancer patients with the Ablatherm HIFU in North America. Patients from both the U.S. and Canada come to the facility to be treated.
"Ablatherm HIFU has the best patient safety outcomes by far and cure rates are excellent,” Dr. William Orovan, the lead urological surgeon at Maple Leaf HIFU, said in a statement. “Side effects of HIFU, including incontinence and erectile dysfunction, are much less than traditional surgery or radiation."
Prostate cancer is the number one cancer that affects men in North America, according to the American Cancer Society. In 2015, 200,000 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and more than 25,000 will die.