What is the CyberKnife® System?
The CyberKnife System is an image guided robotic radiosurgery system that uses a compact linear accelerator (LINAC) mounted on a robotic arm to deliver concentrated beams of radiation to the targeted tumor from multiple positions and angles. Through the use of image guidance, the CyberKnife system locates the position of the tumor in the body and uses its robotic arm to deliver highly focused beams of radiation that converge at the tumor. Thus, the tumor receives a cumulative dose of radiation high enough to control or kill the tumor cells while minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Picture in you’re mind a hundred or more pins in a tiny pin cushion, the area outside the pin cushion only receives radiation from the pin traveling through it, however the tumor cell gets hit by each beam as it enters and travels through the tumor thus receiving the appropriate radiation dose.
The CyberKnife is the only system available which can also compensate for patient movement during treatment to ensure highly accurate delivery of radiation. This is especially important for soft tissue cancer treatments.
Because of its high precision and accuracy, the CyberKnife System is used to non-invasively achieve a surgical-like outcome for lesions anywhere in the body including the brain, spine, lung, liver and prostate.