REMOTE CONTROLLED MANIPULATOR (RCM)

---

​​IMPROVED MR-GUIDED BIOPSIES OF THE PROSTATE

​​Soteria Medical BV’s goal is to improve MR-guided biopsies (MRgBx) of the prostate. Soteria has developed a robot for MR-guided interventions - based on a novel, patented motor principle. The main objectives are to improve accuracy, duration, cost and reliability of existing procedures. We are enabling the Physician to perform a targeted prostate biopsy – using the best possible imaging modality with the same image quality for diagnostic imaging and biopsy guidance – to further improve prostate cancer diagnosis. Decreasing the procedure time results in more patient comfort and less patient motion – which in return improves the biopsy results.

​​THE BEST POSSIBLE THERAPY DECISIONS

​Soteria is helping to make the best possible therapy decision - for the treating medical professional, as well as for the patient – by supporting the detection of the true aggressiveness and the extent of the disease. Only multiparametric MRI is currently able to detect and target the most aggressive part of the lesions and therefore improved and accurate MRgBx will help advance diagnostic results, followed by the best possible treatment for the patient.

​​A FULLY MR COMPATIBLE MANIPULATOR

The setup consist of a fully MR compatible manipulator made of high quality plastics. This manipulator is connected via 7 meters of tubing to a control unit using a wall feed. The control unit is based in the MR control room and relays the motion derived from the dedicated software system.

​​PRECISELY IDENTIFY THE TARGET LOCATION

The software system receives MRI images from the scanner for the planning of the position of the needle guide used for guiding the biopsy needle. The user is guided through the procedure using a tab based software. After the registration of the device relative to the patient inside the scanner, subsequent images are taken to re-identify the target location from previous diagnostic scans. This is the most recent situation which then is used for the selection of the target. (see images)
​After selecting a target the robot motion is executed and a quick confirmation scan is taken to see if the guide is in the desired position.

CERTIFICATIONS

Soteria Medical is ISO 13485 certified. The RCM has received CE certification as well as FDA registration.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE WORKFLOW OF THE RCM

PROSTATE CANCER

---

GENERAL BACKGROUND

​Prostate cancer is the most common cancer, other than non-melanoma skin cancer, and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States. Prostate cancer incidence rates rose dramatically in the late 1980s, when screening with the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test, which received initial U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval in 1986, came into wide use. It is estimated that approximately $9.9 billion is spent each year in the United States on prostate cancer treatment. (National Cancer Institute)

​It is estimated that 240,890 men will be diagnosed with and 33,720 men will die of cancer of the prostate in 2011. Based on rates from 2006-2008, 16.48% of men born today will be diagnosed with cancer of the prostate at some time during their lifetime. This number can also be expressed, as 1 in 6 men will be diagnosed with cancer of the prostate during their lifetime. In addition, on January 1, 2008, in the United States there were approximately 2,355,464 men alive who had a history of cancer of the prostate.

read more