CyberKnife could be used for non-invasive cardiac ablation
Accuray Inc. has entered into an agreement with CyberHeart Inc. under which CyberHeart will use Accuray’s technology to develop a non-invasive method for performing cardiac ablation. Cardiac ablation is used to destroy a small portion of the heart that is causing abnormal rhythms. The developed technology may have eventual applications in the treatment of atrial fibrillation.
Currently cardiac ablation is done during open-heart surgery or as a catheter-based procedure in which a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel up to the heart and radiofrequency energy is delivered. Cardiac ablation is most often used to create a lesion that interferes with abnormal cardiac conduction, with the objective of treating cardiac arrhythmias. CyberHeart is exploring the use of Accuray’s CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System to generate these lesions non-invasively.
“The heart is not an organ that is typically treated with radiation. However, CyberHeart believes that by using highly accurate radiosurgery technology, we can effectively ablate cardiac tissue and potentially create a lesion that can block abnormal cardiac rhythm,” said Patrick Maguire, MD, PhD, president and CEO of CyberHeart. He added that the system is unique in that it “offers the precision needed to ensure only very specific regions of the heart are treated. We expect to begin initial clinical trials in 12 to18 months and it is our objective to bring the product to market in the next three to four years.”
Currently cardiac ablation is done during open-heart surgery or as a catheter-based procedure in which a catheter is inserted into a blood vessel up to the heart and radiofrequency energy is delivered. Cardiac ablation is most often used to create a lesion that interferes with abnormal cardiac conduction, with the objective of treating cardiac arrhythmias. CyberHeart is exploring the use of Accuray’s CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System to generate these lesions non-invasively.
“The heart is not an organ that is typically treated with radiation. However, CyberHeart believes that by using highly accurate radiosurgery technology, we can effectively ablate cardiac tissue and potentially create a lesion that can block abnormal cardiac rhythm,” said Patrick Maguire, MD, PhD, president and CEO of CyberHeart. He added that the system is unique in that it “offers the precision needed to ensure only very specific regions of the heart are treated. We expect to begin initial clinical trials in 12 to18 months and it is our objective to bring the product to market in the next three to four years.”