Distribution Agreement Established for Optimized Prostate Biopsy Guidance Using MRI Transrectal Ultrasound Fusion Technology

Analogic Corp. (Peabody, MA, USA), a developer of medical imaging and aviation security technology, reported on their distribution agreement with D&K Technologies (Surat, Gujarat, India), developer of the BioJet solution, a novel three-dimensional (3D) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) fusion technology, at the American Urological Association (AUA) annual meeting May 15, 2014, held in Orlando (FL, USA). The BioJet Fusion system overlays real-time ultrasound images from the BK Flex Focus ultrasound system with MRI identified lesions to provide real-time guidance during prostate biopsies.

“The BioJet system with Analogic’s BK Flex Focus is a complementary combination of MRI for lesion visualization and real-time ultrasound for enhanced biopsy guidance,” said Farley Peechatka, senior vice president and general manager of the ultrasound business at Analogic. “The targeted biopsies will help to guide physicians to potential regions of interest in the prostate that previously may have been missed. Providing precise, targeted biopsies could potentially reduce the incidence of under- and over-treatment of lesions for patients.”

The combination of the Flex Focus and BioJet provides a complete system that will support both transperineal and transrectal biopsy techniques. The BK endocavity biplane transducer (8848) is suitable for transperineal fusion biopsies. Furthermore, there are two options for transrectal fusion biopsies—the BK prostate triplane (8818) and BK prostate biplane transducer (8808e). Data are easily imported and exported allowing for a more effective working process between urologists and radiologists. Thorough biopsy reports contain fused MRI and ultrasound images, and biopsy cores. The total system is simple to use with an intuitive user interface that includes simple contouring and fine-tuning, designed specifically for busy urology practices. Moreover, the Flex Focus with the BioJet system has a small footprint, enabling it to fit into tight spaces in a clinic or practice.

Analogic will distribute the BioJet system for use with its BK Flex Focus ultrasound systems for assistance during precise, targeted prostate biopsies in the United States, Canada, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Luxemburg, Sweden, Switzerland, and The Netherlands.

According to researchers, the innovative fusion of MRI and ultrasound may be a better way to identify and assess prostate cancer, while helping men avoid unnecessary biopsies. This technology merges real-time imaging from MRI and ultrasound devices, allowing physicians to more effectively direct the biopsy needle that draws cell samples from suspected tumors.

The technology is part of an overall approach to use MRI scans to determine which men need to undergo prostate biopsy and then use MRI/ultrasound fusion to perform the most streamlined biopsy possible. MRI scanning is also used during the biopsy, whereby an electromagnetic field generator is positioned over the patient’s hip, creating real-time MRI images that are combined with ultrasound images to guide the needle biopsy. The images from the earlier MRI screening can then be overlaid with the real-time images to provide visible targets for the physician to biopsy.

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