US HIFU announces exclusive partnership with Riverside Research Institute

Feb 10 2010

US HIFU, a worldwide leader in the development, distribution and use of minimally invasive high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) technologies, announced today its exclusive partnership with Riverside Research Institute (RRI) to develop and test an ultrasonic method of prostate imaging and treatment that combines advanced tissue-type imaging with ultrasound energy from the Sonablate® 500 medical device.  The objective of this modality is to more reliably detect and evaluate cancerous tissue and make treating only the cancerous prostatic tissue instead of the entire gland possible.  This capability will take prostate cancer diagnosis and treatment to an exciting new level. Once the combined technologies are clinically validated, this advanced tissue-typing technology will become a standard feature in the Sonablate device.

"We are continually refining the HIFU procedure and have been researching focal therapy, which simply means targeting and treating the cancerous prostatic tissue instead of the entire prostate," said US HIFU CEO Steve Puckett, Jr. "We are extremely pleased to join forces with Riverside Research Institute because of what it can mean for patient care. This partnership may lead to an unprecedented capability to find the cancer and treat it with HIFU."

Sonablate HIFU, currently under FDA investigation in the U.S., treats the diseased prostate with the power of ultrasound by delivering extreme heat in rapid-fire succession to miniscule targets throughout the prostate so that the prostate is ablated, a process similar to the sun's rays burning a leaf when directed through a magnifying glass.

Ernest Feleppa, Ph.D., RRI Research Director said, "We are very excited about the advances in prostate cancer treatment that this partnership makes possible.  The current lack of a reliable means of imaging prostate tumors typically requires treatment of prostate cancer to involve the entire gland.  By incorporating a method of imaging tumors within the prostate, we will be able to take full advantage of the precise ability of HIFU to target only the diseased region, which will spare healthy tissue, retain gland function and minimize toxic side effects.  This capability, which will be realized in a single integrated ultrasound device, represents a major breakthrough in prostate cancer treatment."

Dr. Feleppa will describe tissue-type imaging and what it can mean for cancer treatment at the Third International Symposium on Focal Therapy and Imaging of Prostate and Kidney Cancer, taking place in Washington, D.C. from February 24-27.