University of Utah Begins MicroThermX Study

The University of Utah School of Medicine has launched a study that will evaluate BSD Medical Corporation’s MicroThermX microwave ablation system for treating liver tumors.

The single-arm trial will include 20 patients and evaluate both cirrhotic and noncirrhotic liver tissue. Principal investigator Ryan O’Hara, M.D., and colleagues plan to clinically evaluate the size of the ablation zones produced in liver tissue by the Synchronous Wave Alignment technology used in MicroThermX, according to BSD. O’Hara is assistant professor of Radiology; chief, Department of Interventional Radiology, and director of Interventional Oncology at the University of Utah School of Medicine’s Huntsman Cancer Hospital.

“This trial will allow us to study the effects of the Synchronous Wave Alignment technology in both cirrhotic and non-cirrhotic liver tissue, and to determine if there is a difference in how the energy is absorbed in the two types of tissue,” O’Hara said.

The MicroThermX utilizes patented Synchronous Wave Alignment technology developed by BSD to provide larger and more uniform zones of ablation across all tissue types during a single procedure. The University of Utah study will evaluate the ability of MicroThermX to create larger heating zones using multiple antennas, than those achieved by other available microwave ablation systems. Simultaneously utilizing multiple antennas gives physicians the ability to create a large, contiguous zone of necrosis with large margins, the company said. Larger, hotter heating zones may also decrease the occurrence of inadequate treatment of larger tumors.

MicroThermX — which has been cleared by both U.S. and European regulators — is a compact, mobile, proprietary system that includes a microwave generator, single-patient-use disposable antennas and a thermistor-based temperature monitoring system. BSD claims its MicroThermX design is the first of its kind that allows delivery of higher power levels using a single generator.

The soft tissue (tumor) ablation world market potential is estimated to exceed $2.3 billion.

Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, BSD Medical develops, manufactures and markets cancer therapy technology.