The BSD-2000 provides deep regional therapeutic hyperthermia to solid tumors (primarily for cervical cancer) by applying radiofrequency (RF) energy at the frequency range of 75 to 120 MHz. The BSD-2000 delivers energy to a patient using a power source and an array of multiple antennae that surround the patient’s body. The BSD-2000 was designed to provide an optimized heating zone targeted to the tumor region by utilizing the adjustment of frequency, phase, and amplitude from multiple power sources. The energy can be focused electronically to the tumor region, thus providing dynamic control of the heating delivered to the tumor region.
During a treatment, the cancerous tumor is heated to 40 and 45°C (104 -113 °F). Hyperthermia damages cells in solid tumors, without damaging normal tissues, because higher temperatures selectively damage cells that are hypoxic and have low pH, a condition of tumor cells and not a condition of normal cells. Hyperthermia has been shown to inhibit cellular repair mechanisms, induce heat-shock proteins, denature proteins, induce apoptosis, and inhibit angiogenesis.
The BSD-2000 consists of four major subsystems.
- RF power delivery subsystem.
- Proprietary, thermistor-based, thermometry subsystem.
- Computerized monitoring and control subsystem.
- Applicator subsystem that includes an applicator and patient support system.
- Various accessories, including a tissue equivalent QA lamp phantom that provides verification of the energy focus, pattern steering, and system operations.