Sam Brusco, Associate Editor01.05.24
HistoSonics revealed today the world’s first patients have received liver tumor treatments using its Edison histotripsy system. The procedures took place at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Cleveland Clinic.
The Edison image-guided sonic beam therapy system—which obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) de novo clearance in September—uses the company’s technology and advanced imaging for non-invasive, personalized liver tumor treatments. Edison is also currently investigational for kidney applications in the U.S.
Histotripsy leverages focused sound energy to create controlled acoustic cavitation, which mechanically destroys and liquifies tissue at sub-cellular levels. Edison is intended to destroy or reduce the size of unresectable liver tumors.
“There is an enormous potential applicability of histotripsy in patients with liver tumors,” said Roberto Hernandez-Alejandro MD, Chief of the Division of Transplantation at University of Rochester Medical Center. “By destroying targeted liver tumors, histotripsy opens the opportunities for patients to be downstaged and bridged for surgical resections and transplantation. One of the most interesting findings in our early experience is the preservation of the vessels and blood flow, which is unique and may open a new era in liver therapies.”
“In our early experience, we have found that patients have the potential to benefit from histotripsy because it is less invasive than other treatment options and our patients reported a lack of pain following the procedure,” added C.H. David Kwon, MD, PhD, Director of Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery at Cleveland Clinic.
The Edison image-guided sonic beam therapy system—which obtained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) de novo clearance in September—uses the company’s technology and advanced imaging for non-invasive, personalized liver tumor treatments. Edison is also currently investigational for kidney applications in the U.S.
Histotripsy leverages focused sound energy to create controlled acoustic cavitation, which mechanically destroys and liquifies tissue at sub-cellular levels. Edison is intended to destroy or reduce the size of unresectable liver tumors.
“There is an enormous potential applicability of histotripsy in patients with liver tumors,” said Roberto Hernandez-Alejandro MD, Chief of the Division of Transplantation at University of Rochester Medical Center. “By destroying targeted liver tumors, histotripsy opens the opportunities for patients to be downstaged and bridged for surgical resections and transplantation. One of the most interesting findings in our early experience is the preservation of the vessels and blood flow, which is unique and may open a new era in liver therapies.”
“In our early experience, we have found that patients have the potential to benefit from histotripsy because it is less invasive than other treatment options and our patients reported a lack of pain following the procedure,” added C.H. David Kwon, MD, PhD, Director of Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery at Cleveland Clinic.