ST PETERSBURG, 14 Jun. In Russia, clinical trials of the newest complex for the fight against neoplasms using focused ultrasound begin. The device is a combination of diagnostic tools (ultrasound machine) and a treatment tool — high-intensity ultrasound, which, thanks to appropriate technical devices, is focused at a given point where there is a neoplasm.
The created medical complex is the result of the joint work of specialists from the laboratory of ultrasound technologies of the Center for Advanced Studies of Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University (SPbPU) and the Novosibirsk Instrument-Making Plant (the Shvabe concern), as well as leading medical institutions — the National Medical Research Center of Oncology named after N.N. . Petrov and the First St. Petersburg State Medical University. Academician I.P. Pavlova.
According to Oleg Ipatov, Head of the SPbPU Scientific and Technological Partnership Department, the goal of clinical trials is to develop specific methods for doctors. «We expect that such techniques will be developed by the end of this year and the device will enter the market next year,» the scientist said.
According to him, this is a fairly new branch of treatment and diagnostics, which is called «theranostics» (therapy and diagnostics). When a neoplasm is irradiated with ultrasound, cells are heated up to 70–90 degrees in 10–15 seconds, as a result of which the neoplasm heats up, and then the body itself removes dead cells.
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"The technique is not Russian, there are analogues in the world. In particular, in France, with the help of a similar device, breast neoplasms in women are treated. But world practice shows that these methods are actively used for the treatment of other organs. For example, in America there is a device for the treatment of prostate adenoma in men. In China, this method is used to solve the problem of treating the thyroid gland. The method has shown its effectiveness in the treatment of varicose veins,» the scientist said.
According to him, the method is good because it is painless and does not require surgical intervention. As Oleg Ipatov notes, the Russian phone has a number of advantages over its French counterpart.
«The procedure time is reduced to 10-15 seconds, while the French technology takes several minutes. In our device there is a feedback that allows the doctor to control the modes. In addition, our device provides for thermometry — the temperature in the irradiation zone is monitored, which is very important from the point of view of the absence of overheating, «the scientist explained, adding that Russia managed to create a truly high-tech device, extremely complex in its execution.