Oncology Archives

Ambulight PDT for Outpatient Photodynamic Skin Cancer Therapy

by Gene Ostrovsky on Mar 16, 2010 •

443sfdkjl Ambulight PDT for Outpatient Photodynamic Skin Cancer Therapy
Ambicare Health out of Fife, Scotland just received the European CE mark of approval and is subsequently launching the Ambulight PDT device for on-the-go photodynamic therapy. PDT typically requires in-hospital equipment, so skin cancer patients are tied to a clinical environment when receiving treatment. The Ambulight PDT is small and portable enough to be worn inconspicuously as a skin patch, taking the patient out of the hospital for a better experience and reduced costs.
Features from the product page:
22200239jj Ambulight PDT for Outpatient Photodynamic Skin Cancer Therapy

  • A single use device, packaged as a disposable dressing, it is simple to set up with the patient
  • Wearable low powered light source technology allows greater freedom of movement during treatment
  • Low light intensity – which has the potential to reduce pain
  • A high uniformity of light, wavelength matched to the PDT cream and treatment protocol
  • Convenient for patient, medical professional and healthcare provider

    • Here’s a BBC report about the device:


    Press release: Ambicare Health demonstrates it’s [sic] revolutionary device to key European practitioners in Monaco…
    Product page: Ambulight PDT …

    Ob/Gyn / Oncology / Radiology

    Handheld Laser Scanner Identifies Nature of Breast Masses

    by Gene Ostrovsky on Mar 12, 2010
    Handheld Laser Scanner Identifies Nature of Breast Masses

    In a recent article in journal Radiology, researchers from UC Irvine and University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign describe a method of using a laser to differentiate between benign and malignant tumors within breast tissue. The handheld scanner device in the study is based on frequency domain photon migration and watches the scattering and absorption of laser light as it moves through tissue. The technology, already proving itself effective in clinical trials, may bring a radiation-free modality to your breast cancer oncologist’s office.
    From a UC Irvine press release:

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    Medicine / Oncology

    Vidacare’s OnControl Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy System

    by Gene Ostrovsky on Mar 4, 2010
    Vidacare's OnControl Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy System

    Bone marrow aspiration is just about the most unpleasant clinical procedure for both the patient and doctor. Drilling into an awake and conscious person’s ischial tuberosity has a similar flavor to performing surgery 200 years ago with the patient screaming in pain and chewing on a whiskey cloth. The trick is to do it quick while getting a usable sample to send to the lab. To that end, Vidacare out of Shavano Park, Texas has released the new lithium batter powered OnControl Aspiration System that the company believes will bring a much needed new level of efficiency to this procedure.
    From the press release:

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    Oncology

    Molecular Imaging With Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound for Early Cancer Detection

    by Gene Ostrovsky on Mar 3, 2010
    Molecular Imaging With Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound for Early Cancer Detection

    The Engineer out of UK is reporting on a new Stanford University technique, recently published in The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, in which scientists created intavenous injectable gas-filled “microbubbles” that could be detected by standard ultrasound devices deep within the body. Because these contrast agents were developed to target a common cancer marker, the technique may allow the development of next generation imaging technologies for early screening for a variety of cancers.
    The Engineer explains:

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    Oncology / Radiology

    A cath for all seasons

    by Gene Ostrovsky on Dec 8, 2009
    A cath for all seasons

    Pherocious! The cath from R4 that lets you do more. Just look what’s possible with this cath:

    It is the first apheresis catheter that, in addition to apheresis, intravenous infusions, and blood sampling, is indicated for power injection of contrast media for contrast enhanced computed tomography (CECT) imaging. The catheter will be available in both 12.5F and 10.5F sizes.

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    Genetics / Oncology / Pathology

    Ultrafast Lab-on-a-Chip for Detection of Disease Biomarkers

    by Gene Ostrovsky on Nov 17, 2009
    Ultrafast Lab-on-a-Chip for Detection of Disease Biomarkers

    Researchers from IBM Research in Zurich and the University Hospital of Basel in Switzerland developed a microfluidic device that uses capillary action to detect the presence of protein biomarkers for various disease types. The five square centimeter silicon-based lab-on-a-chip takes only fifteen seconds to perform its analysis.
    Here are the five functional stages of the device:

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    Oncology

    Viral Powered Cancer Therapy from Biovex Advancing Through Clinical Trials

    by Gene Ostrovsky on Nov 16, 2009
    Viral Powered Cancer Therapy from Biovex Advancing Through Clinical Trials

    Biovex out of Woburn, Massachusetts recently completed Phase II clinical trials of the firm’s virus based technology aimed at attacking tumor cells. In this study, the OncoVEXGM-CSF oncolytic herpes virus was tested on patients with advanced melanoma. The results were promising enough to raise $70 million in funds to move the technology further through the trials.

    The Company’s lead cancer treatment, OncoVEXGM-CSF is a first-in-class oncolytic, or cancer destroying virus, that works by replicating and spreading within solid tumors (leaving healthy cells unaffected), thereby causing cancer cell death and stimulating the immune system to destroy un-injected metastatic deposits. Both modes of action have been clearly validated in the clinic, where multiple patients with metastatic disease progressing at enrollment have been declared disease free. BioVex believes OncoVEXGM-CSF has the potential to become a leading standard of care in the treatment of many solid tumors based on the strength of clinical data so far generated coupled with the relatively benign side effect profile noted to date. Previous clinical trials have enrolled patients with breast cancer, melanoma, head and neck cancer and pancreatic cancer, with indications of clinical activity being observed in each.

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    Net News / Oncology

    iChemoTracker Keeps Tabs on Your Chemo Regimen

    by Gene Ostrovsky on Nov 6, 2009
    iChemoTracker Keeps Tabs on Your Chemo Regimen

    Merck has released the iChemoDiary for the iPhone platform, an app designed to help patients monitor their time on chemotherapy. The software allows patient to compile chemo treatments, side effects, and general well being, through a set of criteria, that can be later presented to a healthcare provider.

    Track your chemotherapy schedule, medication, and treatment plan

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    Oncology

    Mini-Lab Device Helps Identify Ideal Chemo Regiment

    by Gene Ostrovsky on Oct 27, 2009
    Mini-Lab Device Helps Identify Ideal Chemo Regiment

    To evaluate how tumor cells from an individual cancer patient might react to chemotherapy drugs, researchers from Technische Universität München (TUM) developed a tiny microfluidic device that can automate the testing process.

    The microsensors on the chip record, among other things, changes in the acid content of the medium and the cells’ oxygen consumption; photographs of the process are also taken by a microscope fitted underneath the microtitre plate. All of the data merge in a computer that is connected to the system, and which provides an overview of the metabolic activity of the tumor cells and their vitality.

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