Spinewand For spinal Mets treatment!!!!

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Cavity Spinewand® Approved for Treatment of Vertebral Metastasis

By OncoEd Inc.

July 09, 2007

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has just approved the Cavity Spinewand® for treatment of cancer that has spread to the spine, referred to as metastasis to the spine or spinal metastasis.

A large proportion of patients diagnosed with solid tumors (cancer that did not originate from blood or immune cells) ultimately develop spinal metastases. Spinal metastasis is the cause of the majority of compression fractures of the spine, and is associated with extreme pain and immobility. At times the immobility caused by spinal metastases prevents patients from receiving other treatment, such as radiation or chemotherapy.

Cavity Spinewand utilizes radiofrequency to kill the cancer cells in the spine. A surgeon places a small cannula at the site of the cancer. The device is guided through radiography. The Cavity Spinewand is placed through the cannula and delivers the radiofrequency to the cancer cells. Then a type of cement mixture is delivered into the cavity site to fill the empty space that was once occupied by the cancer and provide stability to the spine.

Treatment with the Cavity Spinewand minimizes damage to surrounding healthy tissue as the treatment is placed precisely at the site of cancer. Furthermore, treatment with the Cavity Spinewand does not affect subsequent therapy with chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

Patients treated with the Cavity Spinewand report significant pain relief, sometimes including complete pain relief. Patients have also reported improved quality of life and mobility, which at times has enabled them to comply with scheduled chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Patients with spinal metastases may wish to speak with their physician regarding their individual risks and benefits of treatment with Cavity Spinewand.

Reference: Arthrocare. ArthroCare Receives FDA Clearance to Treat Malignant Lesions in the Spine. Available at: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zht ... highlight=. Accessed July 2007.

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