Integra launches XKnife 5 Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Software

Integra LifeSciences Holdings Corporation (Nasdaq:IART) announced today the launch of its XKnife® 5 Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Software. The XKnife® 5 Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Software is part of Integra's XKnife® System and is indicated for Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) and Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT). Integra is featuring the XKnife® System and XKnife® 5 software at the 2010 American Society for Radiation Oncology, San Diego, California, October 31- November 4, 2010.    

Considered a major upgrade to its prior version, XKnife® RT, Integra's XKnife® 5 Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Software combines decades of stereotactic engineering expertise with improvements that greatly enhance its functionality. The enhancements include dynamic arc support, automatic collimator and jaw positioning, and increased visualization tools. The result is a more versatile, user-friendly planning system that facilitates highly accurate stereotactic dosimetric planning.

Integra's XKnife® platform consists of a stereotactic hardware system coupled with stereotactic radiation treatment planning software. XKnife® Stereotactic hardware is manufactured with sub-millimeter precision to provide accurate patient fixation and relocation in a linear accelerator suite. XKnife® 5 Stereotactic Radiosurgery and Radiotherapy Treatment Planning Software works together with Integra's ImageFusion™ Software to deliver a versatile and robust planning system.

"XKnife® 5 software is a major upgrade to the XKnife® system, and will allow our clinicians greater flexibility when treating their patients, while reducing planning time and increasing visualization of disease and healthy tissue. The XKnife® system and the latest upgrades demonstrate Integra's pledge to limit uncertainty for our customers, while providing them with the most innovative technology," said Frank Guglielmo, Vice President of Marketing, Integra Neurosurgery.

SRS is a medical procedure used for the treatment of malignant and benign tumors in the brain and body, as well as various non-cancerous functional disorders such as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and trigeminal neuralgia. The procedure uses a linear accelerator to provide focused non-invasive mid- to high- dose radiation to the affected area, with minimal exposure to surrounding healthy tissue. Because SRS requires no surgical incision, it reduces much of the discomfort and complications that may occur with conventional surgery.

SRT is similar to SRS and provides focused radiation for the treatment of tumors in the brain and body. However, it delivers lower doses of focused radiation over a series of treatment sessions. This method of multiple treatments is called "fractionation," and can be an excellent alternative to conventional radiation treatments.