BSD Medical is Now Pyrexar Medical

The complete line of BSD Hyperthermia products are availble thru Pyrexar Medical

Dario Rodrigues Ph.D. is an assistant professor and thermal oncology physicist at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Dr. Rodrigues's medical specialty is the treatment of cancer using hyperthermia therapy in combination with radiation treatments. Hyperthermia is a thermal therapy technique administered by focusing radio and microwaves to generate a cellular heat response.  As a physicist, he performs adjuvant hyperthermia treatments of pelvic, abdominal, and superficial tumors. He is also responsible for the treatment planning, thermal dosimetry, and quality assurance of the clinical hyperthermia equipment.

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Dr. Rodrigues is also a talented researcher. At the recent COMSOL Conference, he presented his computer simulation results of a novel noninvasive brain applicator, which will pave the way to treat brain cancers using focused microwave hyperthermia.

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Treating brain cancers, like glioblastoma multiforme, with hyperthermia and radiotherapy, is not new. Clinical studies, like "Survival benefit of hyperthermia in a prospective randomized trial of brachytherapy boost +/- hyperthermia for glioblastoma multiforme," Sneed, 1998, was an early phase III landmark study demonstrating heightened clinical response and increased survival. But the invasive nature of interstitial hyperthermia requires a specialty that few possess. Creating a non-invasive method of applying and steering microwave hyperthermia may bring some relief to those with non-operable Glioblastomas.

We will continue to follow his progress in pushing forward these advancements in the field of thermal oncology.

For the last 40 years, Pyrexar Medical has developed technologies to allow researchers and clinicians to expand the boundaries of thermal oncology. It is in this pursuit, we continue to develop and improve methods and technologies to lead the world in non-invasive cancer treatments.

Patent US 10,737,106 "Apparatus and Method for Creating Small Focus Deep Hyperthermia in Tissues of the Brain” is another step closer to our ultimate goal of improving the lives of patients with cancer.

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Congratulations to our entire team, and affiliated partners throughout the world, for making the patent achievement possible. Special recognition also goes to inventors Paul Turner, CTO, and Jason Ellsworth, VP of Engineering, for making this technological breakthrough a reality.

The infographic above highlights the benefits of using hyperthermia as an adjunct treatment for MIBC (Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer). Information based on a dual-arm study Long-Term Experience of Chemoradiotherapy Combined with Deep Regional Hyperthermia for Organ Preservation in High-Risk Bladder Cancer (Ta, Tis, T1, T2) by Merten, et al., published in the December 2019 issue of The Oncologist.  The study treated 369 patients from 1982-2016.  Patients in the RCT-RHT group received deep regional hyperthermia, once a week, using the Pyrexar BSD-2000/3D.

An important conclusion is that, not only is RCT+HT an alternative to the surgical cystectomy, but it actually preserves the bladder function where the cystectomy damages normal function of the bladder

What the study may not highlight is the improved quality of life compared to the current standard of care, Cystectomy.  If you have a radical cystectomy, you'll need reconstructive surgery to create a new way for urine to leave your body. Depending on the type of reconstruction, patients may need to learn how to empty a urostomy bag or have a catheter into their stoma. 

Cystectomy Side Effects not found in hyperthermic approach:

  • Infections
  • Urine leaks
  • Incontinence
  • Pouch stones
  • Blockage of urine flow 
  • Erectile Disfunction
  • Absorption problems (depends on the amount of intestine that was used)

The complete article is available on the NIH PubMed website.

 

In a new study from the University Hospital at LMU Munich, clinicians looked to improve outcomes for patients with triple-negative breast cancer. According to breastcancer.org, Triple-negative breast cancer is cancer that tests negative for estrogen receptors, progesterone receptors, and excess HER2 protein. These results mean the growth of the cancer is not fueled by the hormones estrogen and progesterone, or by the HER2 protein. Approximately 10-20% of breast cancers are triple-negative breast cancer and is common in women under the age of 40, who are African-descent, or who have a BRACA1 mutation.

“Patients with triple-negative primary breast cancer (TNBC) who have residual invasive carcinoma after neoadjuvant chemotherapy have poor prognosis.” - study quote

The study was offered to 53 patients from August 2012 to January 2019. In the study, patients received six treatment cycles of chemotherapy and 12 applications of regional hyperthermia using the BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia System.

Link to article abstract here. https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/507473