Because the Sonablate 500 allows the doctor to target treatment to each gland on an individual patient basis, treating prostate cancer with the Sonablate provides unprecedented hands-on control and accuracy. Beyond this, there are several other benefits to this innovative device, including:
- There is no radiation exposure to the patient when treated with HIFU, so the tissues and cells around the gland will not be harmed.
- HIFU with the Sonablate requires no surgery. Therefore there is little risk of blood loss when compared to other treatment options, and it is an outpatient procedure.
- The procedure can be used as a salvage treatment if prostate cancer returns or other treatment options do not work.
- Patients can pursue other treatments after HIFU if needed.
- The only anesthesia needed for HIFU using the Sonablate 500 is spinal (epidural) anesthesia, which reduces any risks from general anesthesia.
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Besides these benefits, the real-time imagine that is utilized by the Sonablate 500 is not available with any other device. These images are 3-dimensional, so the doctor can see the prostate clearly and monitor the process of ablation throughout the treatment. Also, because these images allow the doctor to deliver the treatment to the prostate so precisely, there is rarely damage to the surrounding tissues. These images are used along with dynamic power adjustment, allowing the doctor to change the level of power as the treatment progresses. With this ability, no patient is given too much or too little treatment.
The software that comes with the device is programmed so that it can identify blood flow through the neurovascular bundles, allowing the doctor to avoid damaging these bundles.
The Sonablate® 500 is being studied in clinical trials for use in the treatment of prostate cancer in the United States and is not approved for use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. HIFU with the Sonablate® 500 is authorized for use for the treatment of prostate cancer in Canada, Argentina and the Dominican Republic. It is also available in the Bahamas and Mexico. |
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