Auckland Radiation Oncology’s medical care team used the latest generation device to deliver SRS and SBRT to patients
Auckland Radiation Oncology uses Accuray’s CyberKnife System to deliver SRS and SBRT to patients. (Credit: Sasin Tipchai from Pixabay)
Accuray said that first patient treatments with its robotic radiation therapy delivery device CyberKnife System took place in New Zealand at the Auckland Radiation Oncology (ARO).
The CyberKnife System is designed for delivering treatments with sub-millimeter precision and accuracy in usually one to five outpatient sessions, said the American medical equipment manufacturer.
Auckland Radiation Oncology’s medical care team used the latest generation device to deliver stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) to patients.
Auckland Radiation Oncology clinical director Benji Benjamin said: “We believe the CyberKnife System is more accurate than traditional radiation therapy, with potentially thousands of smaller beams delivering radiation to the tumor with sub-millimeter precision, minimising damage to surrounding healthy structures and organs.
“Introducing the system to our suite of tools is about giving New Zealanders access to one of the world’s most advanced treatment options and doing what we can to minimise the impact of an already challenging time in people’s lives.”
Accuray claimed that the CyberKnife S7 System brings together speed, precision and motion synchronisation technology for treating tumours and lesions in the body.
Treatment with the device is non-surgical, non-invasive and does not need general anesthesia or incisions.
Backed by clinical studies, the robotic radiation therapy delivery device is said to give medical care team more options for achieving favourable outcomes for a variety of indications.
Accuray president and CEO Suzanne Winter said: “These first-in-country patient treatments reinforce the value the CyberKnife System provides to medical care teams around the globe.
“The addition of the Auckland Radiation Oncology centre to the network of facilities using the CyberKnife System will broaden access to a trusted radiation therapy treatment option.”
Last October, the medical equipment provider entered into a partnership with GE Healthcare to expand access, advance the practice of precision radiation therapy. For this, the partnership will bring together GE Healthcare’s precision diagnostic tools and Accuray’s radiation therapy delivery capabilities for advancing the practice of radiation therapy and help provide customised care to cancer patients.