The ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery® Platform is integrated with the ZAP-Axon® Radiosurgery Planning System. (Photo: Business Wire)
Pending FDA 510(k) clearance, the radiosurgery system integrates new generation software and is expected to drive best-in-class radiosurgery brain tumor treatments.
SAN CARLOS, Calif.—ZAP Surgical Systems, Inc., a provider of technology for non-invasive robotic brain surgery, recently introduced its ZAP-Axon® Radiosurgery Planning System, an entirely new software platform dedicated to the company’s ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Radiosurgery® system.
Designed to simplify, accelerate, and enhance treatment planning, Axon aims to set new benchmarks in world-class radiosurgery brain tumor treatments. Axon is currently pending FDA 510(k) clearance and is expected to be available in Spring 2025, the company said in a release.
Axon is dedicated exclusively to cranial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). It is reported to eliminate the cumbersome user interfaces of comprehensive planning systems designed for full body use and myriad radiation delivery techniques. Instead, Axon provides a simplified, intuitive display with clarity in the presentation of sophisticated SRS data without superfluous input and output, the release stated.
“Removing the clutter and complexity, Axon’s simplified design empowers clinicians to rapidly master state-of-the-art radiosurgery planning while reducing the number of clicks and awkward navigation typically encountered in legacy planning systems,” said John R. Adler, M.D., Professor Emeritus of Neurosurgery at Stanford University, and founder and CEO of ZAP Surgical Systems, in the release. “I’ll go so far to say it’s so easy, even a brain surgeon can use it!”
Axon leverages an innovative Krylov quadratic optimizer, aiming to improve treatment quality and preserve eloquent brain tissue by allowing clinicians to easily and quickly explore multiple alternative candidate plans. What formerly required a 20-minute optimization process can now be accomplished in just 30-45 seconds. These rapid-turn iterations enable clinicians to effectively explore additional optimal plan variables, the company said in the release.
“Often faster than today’s standard planning systems, Axon provides an enhanced approach to multiple plan iteration evaluations,” said Alex Maslowski, Ph.D., and vice president of software at ZAP Surgical, in the release. “It allows clinicians to quickly and easily review multiple candidate plans to find the ideal treatment for each patient. With historical planning systems, time constraints often prohibited such an approach.”
The ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery platform features an innovative gyroscopic design that reportedly allows radiosurgical beams to be directed from thousands of potential angles, achieving precise tumor targeting while prioritizing the preservation of healthy brain tissue and cognitive function. Moreover, ZAP-X’s vault-free and cobalt-free design is said to eliminate the need for costly shielded treatment rooms and remove the traditional burden of managing radioactive isotopes.
“Finally, the best SRS software meets the best SRS hardware,” added Adler. “Designed to easily handle the most challenging cranial cases, including trigeminal neuralgia, complex skull-based tumors, and even multiple brain metastases, Axon harnesses the full potential of ZAP-X’s unique combination of gyroscopic geometry, eight circulator beam apertures, and robotic treatment table.”