What is CyberKnife?
CyberKnife® is a nonsurgical, painless technology that can reduce or eliminate certain lesions and tumors, many previously considered inoperable, anywhere in the body. The CyberKnife is not a knife at all, but rather a sophisticated radiation tool. CyberKnife treatment causes significantly fewer complications and lower risk than open surgery.
How does CyberKnife work?
CyberKnife uses a combination of computers, robotics, and image guidance systems to deliver a concentrated, cumulative dose of radiation high enough to control or destroy tumor cells while also minimizing radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. With laser-like accuracy, CyberKnife delivers as many as 1,400 highly pinpointed beams of radiation to control or destroy the tumor.
The robotic arm of the device is rotated depending on the location of the tumor, and can target even the most difficult locations with pinpoint accuracy. Image-guided cameras locate the tumor’s position and remain locked on the target throughout the procedure, which allows CyberKnife to compensate for patient movement during treatment. In other words, the CyberKnife system will work even with slight patient movements during the procedure.
What makes CyberKnife unique?
The CyberKnife System is a one-of-a-kind device for several reasons.
First, the CyberKnife uses image guidance software to track and continually adjust treatment for any patient or tumor movement. This sets it far ahead of other similar treatments. It allows patients to breathe normally and relax comfortably during treatment.
Second, some forms of radiosurgery require rigid head-frames that are screwed into the patient’s skull to minimize any movement. The CyberKnife System does not require such extreme procedures to keep patients in place, and instead relies on sophisticated tracking software, allowing for a much more comfortable and non-invasive treatment.
Third, unlike some radiosurgery systems which can only treat tumors in the head, the CyberKnife System has unlimited reach to treat a broad range of tumors throughout the body; including the prostate, lung, brain, spine, liver, pancreas, and kidney.
And finally, the CyberKnife System’s treatment accuracy is unrivaled. Its ability to treat tumors with pin-point accuracy is unmatched by other radiation therapy and radiosurgery systems. The CyberKnife System can essentially “paint” the tumor with radiation, allowing it to deliver precise treatment to the tumor alone, sparing surrounding healthy tissue.