Philips Releases Tool for Tumor Embolization Procedures

Royal Philips has released its new EmboGuide tool for helping interventional radiologists perform embolizations by visualizing tumors and feeder blood vessels. The software works with the company’s AlluraClarity interventional X-ray and XperCT Dual multiphase cone beam CT.

EmboGuide is a live 3-D image guidance tool that supports the increasing number of minimally invasive procedures. It is designed for use in conjunction with Philips’ interventional X-ray system to perform tumor embolization procedures. Such procedures involve blocking the arteries feeding a tumor to deprive it of nutrients and oxygen. They require the insertion of a catheter, which must be guided to the tumor site with the help of live image-guidance.

Developed in collaboration with clinicians and partners such as BTG, a developer of interventional oncology technologies, EmboGuide addresses the need for an enhanced 3-D imaging solution to make interventional oncology procedures more effective and easier to perform, and ultimately improves patient outcomes, Philips said. It offers interventional radiologists the ability to visualize and characterize tumor lesions and plan and execute interventional procedures.

“Interventional oncology is a fast- growing field that offers clinicians a viable treatment option for patients who are not suitable for surgical tumor removal,” said Gene Saragnese, Imaging Systems CEO at Philips Healthcare. “Together with our partners, we will leverage our combined expertise in image-guided interventions and therapies to accelerate this transformation from surgical procedures to minimally-invasive treatments in oncology.”

A specific example of a tumor embolization procedure is transarterial chemo-embolization (TACE), used for palliative treatment of liver tumors. It involves simultaneous local administration of chemotherapy and beads that block the arteries feeding the liver tumor.

“We can only treat what we see, yet the embolization of all blood vessels that feed the liver tumor lesion is key for an effective TACE procedure,” said Shiro Miyayama, M.D., Department of Diagnostic Radiology at Fukuiken Saisekai Hospital in Japan.
“EmboGuide’s live 3-D image guidance helps to improve the technical success of the procedure, as it can automatically identify the small tumor-feeders that are difficult to detect with conventional 2-D angiographic imaging methods.”

EmboGuide leverages the ultra-low X-ray dose settings of Philips’ AlluraClarity interventional X-ray system and the imaging of the abdomen of XperCT Dual, Philips said. XperCT Dual’s enhanced imaging technique (multiphase cone beam CT) offers high-quality 3-D images of lesions, with better detection capabilities than 2-D angiographic imaging. It also offers clinicians a better view of the treatment targets for informed decision-making while performing the procedure, Philips bigwigs claim. XperCT Dual is comparable to magnetic resonance imaging, which is considered to be the “gold standard.” 

EmboGuide helps define the tumor lesions and features automatic identification of blood vessels that feed lesions. It detects more than twice as many tumor-feeding arteries compared with conventional imaging methods (Digital Subtraction Angiography), according to Philips. This allows interventional radiologists to optimize the catheter locations for embolization and plan a route to them. During the administration of the embolization agent, EmboGuide superimposes the planning information onto the interventional X-ray system’s live images to monitor the treatment progress and determine its endpoint.

“In the treatment of intermediate HCC, the integrated use of our embolic device with image guidance is vital for successful treatment,” said Mike Motion, BTG general manager of interventional oncology. “We invest to improve the safety and efficacy of interventional oncology procedures. Partnering with Philips has strengthened our ability to further develop this approach using DC Bead and Philips’ EmboGuide with the ultimate objective of advancing interventional oncology.”

EmboGuide currently is not available in the United States.

(Editor’s note: For more news about Philips and the company’s recent healthcare division restructuring plans, see Top of the News on page 12.)