http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/080505/aqm031.html?.v=54Someone passed this on to me for a read... (thanks hun!
).... very interesting.... just fyi only..... I know Dr. Medbery was in for this.... shame I didn't get to meet him face to face... mebbe next time.
(Accuray Press Release)
Robotic Radiosurgery Course Yields Record Attendance
Monday May 5, 8:30 am ET
Attendance Doubles with More Than 175 Health Professionals From 13 Countries Participating
SUNNYVALE, Calif., May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY - News), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, today announced that the Robotic Radiosurgery Course held on April 11 and 12 in Boston, Massachusetts yielded record attendance with nearly double the attendees over last year's meeting.
At this year's Robotic Radiosurgery Course, more than 175 health professionals from 13 different countries gathered to hear presentations of the latest scientific and clinical experiences from CyberKnife users around the world. Attendees included physicians, physicists, nurses, therapists, and hospital administrators; all interested in learning the clinical applications of robotic radiosurgery and the specifics of establishing a successful CyberKnife center.
"We were thrilled to see a doubling in attendance at this year's Robotic Radiosurgery Course, particularly the vast specialties and countries that were represented," said Wade Hampton, senior vice president and chief sales officer of Accuray. "Strong interest from attendees around the world has helped to increase the size of our CyberKnife sales pipeline and the amount of business we are working to close."
Oral presentations focused on both intracranial and extracranial treatment experiences, with additional sessions covering coding and reimbursement, payor relations and a tour of the CyberKnife facility at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. Continuing medical education (CME) credits were offered to attendees.
Abstract highlights included Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, NY's experience treating 230 prostate cancer patients with CyberKnife radiosurgery demonstrating excellent prostate specific antigen (PSA) response, with only 1 biochemical failure to date in a patient with high risk disease, and few reports of acute toxicity at a mean of 6 months follow-up.
Additionally, experience from Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Md., highlighted the outcomes of 45 patients with pancreatic cancer whose prior surgery or prior radiation was unsuccessful or who were inoperable and who subsequently were treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery. The median overall survival time from diagnosis was 18.4 months with a local control rate of 91 percent for these patients. These results constitute very promising outcomes, given the often poor prognosis for pancreatic cancer.
About the CyberKnife® Robotic Radiosurgery System
The CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System is the world's only robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat tumors anywhere in the body non-invasively. Using continual image guidance technology and computer controlled robotic mobility, the CyberKnife System automatically tracks, detects and corrects for tumor and patient movement in real-time throughout the treatment. This enables the CyberKnife System to deliver high-dose radiation with pinpoint precision, which minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue and eliminates the need for invasive head or body stabilization frames.
About Accuray
Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY - News), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is a global leader in the field of radiosurgery dedicated to providing an improved quality of life and a non-surgical treatment option for those diagnosed with cancer. Accuray develops and markets the CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System, which extends the benefits of radiosurgery to include extracranial tumors, including those in the spine, lung, prostate, liver and pancreas. To date, the CyberKnife System has been used to treat more than 40,000 patients worldwide and currently more than 130 systems have been installed in leading hospitals in the Americas, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit
http://www.accuray.com.
Safe Harbor Statement
The foregoing may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with the medical device industry. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, clinical studies, regulatory review and approval, and market acceptance and commercialization of products and services are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make include: market acceptance of products; competing products, the combination of our products with complementary technology; and other risks detailed from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in our report on Form 10-K for the 2007 fiscal year, as updated from time to time by our quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's actual results of operations may differ significantly from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements as a result of these and other factors. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.
