Stereotactic radiosurgery uses very accurately targeted doses of radiation to treat tumors, lesions and a few other select medical disorders.

CyberKnife(r) is a new approach to stereotactic radiosurgery.  This non-invasive, outpatient procedure destroys tumors without the risks and complications of traditional surgery. It can deliver radiation to tumors anywhere in the body. Standard radiosurgery techniques only treat brain tumors.

We can now treat tumors that were previously untreatable with other procedures or have already received the maximum dose of radiation.

The power of technology
With its high precision and accuracy, a CyberKnife procedure can provide surgery-like results, without surgery. It's a painless outpatient procedure without the risk and complications associated with surgery.

Inspired by the scalpel-free technique of Dr. Mccoy on Star Trek, CyberKnife combines advanced robotics and missle-guidance technology to pinpoint the position of tumors and deliver highly focused beams of radiation without damaging surrounding tissue.

A computer program evaluates the unique shape and location of the tumor to decide the orientation of each of the 1,200 or more beams of radiation that will target the tumor.

An x-ray source located on the CyberKnife's robotic arm delivers concentrated beams of radiation to the tumor from multiple positions and angles. Each individual beam is not strong enough to damage healthy surrounding tissue. The beams are targeted to intersect at the tumor, where their combined strength is intense.

The very flexible range of motion offered by the robotic arm allows the CyberKnife to reach tumors we could not reach by other means.

The CyberKnife continually checks and corrects for any patient movement during the treatment, ensuring superior accuracy. With this accuracy, the CyberKnife can use higher doses of radiation to attack tumors.

A little more freedom
In standard stereotactic techniques such as the Gamma Knife, a metal frame is bolted to the patient's skull during the procedure. This head frame remains attached to the patient during the entire process, while initial imaging scans are taken, while doctors develop a treatment plan and during radiation treatment. This process can take a day or longer and is extremely uncomfortable for many patients.

CyberKnife offers all of the advantages of radiosurgery, but without the need for a metal head frame. Instead, patients are fitted with a a more comfortable flexible mesh mask for tumors in the head, or a body cradle for spinal tumors or other tumors outside the head.