High-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedures to ablate prostate tissue are still relatively new, so having trained physicians on staff who can perform them may present a challenge. To help with the learning process, SonaCare Medical has launched Sonalink — a remote monitoring platform that provides comprehensive training and support.
"As is the case with any new technology, emphasis on training and customer support during the early phases of the learning curve provides the greatest likelihood of superior patient outcomes, which in turn leads to the long-term viability of the technology,” Dr. Mark Carol, CEO of SonaCare, said in a statement.
The launch occurred over the course of two HIFU procedures conducted with SonaCare’s Sonablate system, in which Dr. Samuel Peretsman of Urology Specialists of the Carolinas was connected to a HIFU technical expert at SonaCare Medical headquarters.
Even though Peretsman is an experienced HIFU physician and performed his first Sonablate procedure in the U.S. earlier this year, he still found the platform useful. “It is very reassuring to know we have continuous technical support throughout a procedure,” he said in a statement.
During the HIFU procedure, ultrasound energy is focused at a specific point within the prostate and the tissue temperature rapidly increases to almost 195 degrees Fahrenheit. That tissue is then destroyed, but the surrounding tissue is not affected.
The image on the system's screen can be sent anywhere, including the next room, across the country, or to other physicians training on the procedure. Sonalink provides monitors and provides technical support for cases, if requested.
It's similar to having a cockpit technician copilot during an air flight who ensures that nothing is overlooked, or that the information provided by the control system displayed on the computer system is not misinterpreted.
Sonablate was the first HIFU device to receive FDA approval for the ablation of prostate tissue. It was introduced more than 15 years ago and has been used to treat almost 15,000 patients in more than 30 countries.
