Calypso Medical Technologies, Inc., a developer of real-time localization technology used for the precise tracking of tumor targets, announced today that the University of Maryland Marlene and Stewart Greenebaum Cancer Center, a National Cancer Institute-designated cancer center in Baltimore, now offers the Calypso® System to provide accurate, precise, real-time tumor tracking for cancer patients undergoing external beam radiation therapy. With this installation, nine of the top 33 medical centers identified in U.S. News and World Report’s ranking of best U.S. cancer hospitals have adopted the Calypso System.
Known as GPS for the Body® technology, the Calypso System utilizes miniature implanted Beacon® transponders to provide precise, continuous, real-time information about the location of the tumor target during external beam radiation therapy. Any movement by the patient, including internal movement of the tumor, has the potential to compromise treatment accuracy. In contrast to other tumor-targeting solutions, Calypso’s GPS for the Body technology provides continuous objective tumor position information, thereby enabling the correct radiation dose to be delivered to the tumor while minimizing the amount of radiation misapplied to normal tissue.
“Using the Calypso System, we are able to ensure that our patients are optimally positioned for treatment,” said Mohan Suntha, M.D., associate director of the Greenebaum Cancer Center at the University of Maryland Medical Center and professor and vice chair of radiation oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “When the Calypso System detects significant organ motion during treatment, it signals the technician to realign the patient in a matter of seconds, ensuring that radiation therapy is focused on the tumor, avoiding healthy surrounding tissue.”
"I've been treating prostate cancer for thirty years and this is an incredibly exciting technology. The Calypso System enhances our ability to target only the prostate with radiation,” said Pradip Amin, M.D., a radiation oncologist at the cancer center and associate professor of radiation oncology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. “Preventing excessive radiation to the surrounding healthy tissue may help alleviate some of the side effects associated with this treatment regimen."
The Calypso System at the University of Maryland Greenebaum Cancer Center is the second in the Baltimore area. The Baltimore Washington Medical Center Tate Cancer Center also offers this innovative technology. The University of Maryland Medical Center and Baltimore Washington Medical Center are part of the 11-hospital University of Maryland Medical System.
“Leading medical centers, such as the University of Maryland Medical Center, are adopting the Calypso System to ensure safe and accurate delivery of radiation. In addition to improving the accuracy of treatment, the Calypso System has been shown to streamline workflow and increase efficiency,” said Lorraine Marshall Wright, vice president and chief marketing officer at Calypso Medical. “Calypso Medical is proud to partner with the University of Maryland Medical Center to enhance patient care.”
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