BSD Medical Corporation develops, manufactures, markets, and services systems to treat cancer and benign diseases. Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, they develop systems using heat therapy from focused radio frequency and microwave energy. BSD Medical is also working to develop this technology for other therapies. The company trades on NASDAQ as part of the Medical Appliances and Equipment industry.
BSD utilizes microwave hyperthermia therapy to kill cancer directly with heat and increase the effectiveness of radiation treatments. They are also studying promising results for this therapy in combination with chemotherapy for fighting cancer. Founded in 1978, BSD Medical Corp. has sold and manufactured over 200 hyperthermia systems installed worldwide. They are the first company to receive pre-market approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for a hyperthermia cancer-therapy system. In addition, they are the first company to receive Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) approval from the FDA for thermotherapy systems for the treatment of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH).
The company has nine U.S. patents, three foreign patents, and five patent licenses covering their current portfolio of applications and products. BSD Medical has developed the technology needed to apply hyperthermia therapy through three techniques. These are superficial, interstitial, and deep hyperthermia. These methods mean cancer is treatable virtually anywhere in the body. Superficial hyperthermia systems find use in non-invasively treating tumors within a few centimeters of the surface of the body. Interstitial hyperthermia finds use mainly in treating tumors in combination with popular interstitial and endocavitary ionizing radiation therapy (brachytherapy). This process uses tiny microwave antennae inserted through the same catheters required to deliver radioactive seeds. Deep hyperthermia finds use in non-invasively treating tumors deep within the body.
The development of the company’s BSD-2000 Regional Hyperthermia System is an effort involving major American research institutions. The company now has 3D capabilities with this system. The BSD-2000/3D adds three-dimensional steering of deep-focused energy, delivering further precise heating to a tumor. The BSD-2000 and BSD-2000/3D administer non-invasive treatment to deep tumors. As well, the company has also added MRI treatment. The BSD-2000/3D/MR provides magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as an interface with the BSD-2000/3D. MRI treatment monitoring opens the door for the use of MRI monitored hyperthermia for better treatment of new cancer sites, using non-invasive imaging (including temperature monitoring) of tumors during therapy.
On July 31, the company announced that their BSD-2000/3D/MR has been adapted to treat children with cancer, as well as adults. For the treatment of children, BSD Medical has developed sophisticated treatment applicators that they size specifically for small and medium-sized children. These applicators are capable of delivering pediatric cancer therapy during simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the treatment in progress. BSD is also the developer of the microwave thermal therapy systems used by TherMatrx, Inc. This company is dedicated to the treatment of symptoms associated with enlarged prostate. BSD Medical Corporation sells its products primarily to clinics, hospitals, and institutes. They continue to innovate with heat therapy to deliver systems that help healthcare professionals treat disease today.
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