BSD Medical is Now Pyrexar Medical

The University Hospital Campus Bio-Medico Rome announced the opening of its new thermal oncology unit with the acquisition of two new Linacs and two new hyperthermia treatment systems.  The hospital chose the Pyrexar BSD-500 Superficial/Interstitial System and a BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia System to improve cancer treatment. In an article published in the Corriere Della Sera, the hospital shared the following reasons for investing in hyperthermia, a vital cancer treatment technology.

A special thanks to our distributor, Tema Sinergie, for their excellent representation and continuing efforts in expanding hyperthermia throughout Italy.

Pyrexar Medical exhibited at the PTCOG-NA (Particle Therapy Cooperative Group - North America) held at the Miami Cancer Institute, part of Baptist Health South Florida. 

The conference organizers invited Dr. Zeljko Vujaskovic, Director of the Division of Translational Radiation Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, to be a featured speaker at the event.  Dr. Vujaskovic presented "Hyperthermia and Protons: Is This the Safe Way to Get the 'Carbon Effect'?" which included some clinical results from the dual therapy. Dr. Vujaskovic and his team at the UMMC have been treating patients with combined hyperthermia and proton beam since the center opened in 2015. The hospital treats patients with the BSD-500 Superficial/Interstitial and the BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia System along with protons with great success. His colleague, Dr. J.D. Snider, presented "Concurrent Pencil Beam Scanning Proton Therapy and Hyperthermia: Growing Experience with Promising Results."

(L to R) Dr. Gerhard Sennewald, Dr. Sennewald Medizintechnik; Mark Falkowski, CEO and Mark Kidd, VP Sales and Business Development; Pyrexar Medical

Adding hyperthermia to proton therapy is not new. A BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia System located at Kantonsspital Aarau, Switzerland, has established protocols for the combined treatment with excellent outcomes. But the hyperthermia suite and the proton center are a 30-minute drive apart.  Therapeutic results can undoubtedly be achieved within the dual therapies recommended target window, but for obvious reasons, this can be a deterrent in best practice and clinical testing. Now with the world's first proton therapy and hyperthermia in the same center (See Hyperthermia + Proton Beam, Now in the US), there are more significant opportunities for clinical research.

There have been a lot of firsts at the Maryland Proton Center. First Proton Center in the region; First center to offer both Hyperthermia + Protons at the same facility, and now they are experiencing another First by treating their 2000th patient!

In their press release, the University states that "just three years after opening its doors, the Maryland Proton Treatment Center (MPTC) has reached a major milestone by treating its 2,000th patient. MPTC is the first proton treatment center to open in the District/Maryland/Virginia region. It is also the only treatment center in the world that offers both proton and thermal therapies in one facility". See the complete press release.

A key figure in the success of the thermal oncology department, Dr. Zeljko Vujaskovic, not only advocates for patients under his care; but continues to share his knowledge, research, and advancements in thermal oncology as he travels the globe as a featured speaker at medical conferences. For Pyrexar Medical, it is a privilege to be associated with such a distinguished group of professionals, researchers, and practitioners of thermal oncology.

Take a Virtual Tour of the BSD-2000

Take a virtual visit to the Thermal Oncology department at the University of Maryland and the BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia System. [Note: Hold down the mouse key to move the camera, click to move around the room and use the mouse wheel to zoom

Pyrexar Medical will be an exhibiting sponsor of the PTCOG-NA (Particle Therapy Co-Operative Group - North America) in Miami, Florida, October 14-16, our first participation in this annual event. Pyrexar's interest in proton therapy focused after reading a 2014 article published in the International Journal of Hyperthermia by Prof. Dr. Niloy Datta exploring proton therapy and hyperthermia.

Since then, Pyrexar placed a BSD-2000 Deep Regional Hyperthermia System at the University of Maryland Proton Center.  The first installation in the world to offer both a proton therapy system and hyperthermia system under the same roof.  This installation, along with further clinical study, will move us closer to understanding the relationship of protons combined with focused heating.

For more information on attending the upcoming PTCOG-NA conference, follow the link.