PROVIDENCE, R.I., and MILAN, Italy, Oct. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Rhode Island Hospital announced that Dr. Damian Dupuy, Director of Minimally Invasive Therapy and Ultrasound at Rhode Island Hospital, will lead a "How To" session on the use of Vivant's Vivawave (TM) microwave ablation system for ablation of tumors at the International Conference on Image-Guided Ablation Therapies of Neoplastic Diseases which will take place from October 14-16, 2004 in Milan, Italy.
It is increasingly apparent that ablative technologies present a vital option to patients who have run out of alternatives. In the session, Dr. Dupuy will discuss his experience in using microwave ablation in situations where tumor size and/or location have made surgery impractical. He will demonstrate that as opposed to the longer operating times and possible complications presented by surgery, microwave ablation, can be performed without intravenous sedation and in many cases, can be an out-patient procedure.
Dr. Dupuy said, "With Vivant's microwave ablation system, I have been able to treat patients that I could not have with previously available ablation technologies. I look forward to sharing this valuable tool with other doctors. I believe this technology provides doctors and patients with an effective and attractive alternative to both surgery and other ablative devices."
Dr. Dupuy's workshop will illustrate how microwave ablation, unlike radio-frequency ablation, the current standard in tumor ablation, provides more consistent and predictable heating and a reliable margin of safety around the tumor. He will demonstrate how the elimination of ablation grounding pads increases the safety of the procedure and the comfort of the patient, as radio-frequency ablation requires grounding pads that can cause burns and painful nerve stimulation. Microwave ablation also involves less preparation/set-up and allows the simultaneous use of multiple probes leading to faster procedures.
About Rhode Island Hospital
Rhode Island Hospital is an academic medical center affiliated with Brown Medical School. Among the medical staff are national leaders in oncology, cardiology and orthopedics. Founded in 1863, it is a private, not-for-profit hospital, the largest of the state's general acute care hospitals and the only Level 1 trauma center for Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.
About Vivant Medical's VivaWave(TM) Microwave Ablation System
The VivaWave Microwave Ablation System is a novel and proprietary technology developed by Vivant Medical, Inc., Mountain View, California, USA. The VivaWave System has received FDA 510(k) clearance for the coagulation of soft tissue, and the system is in clinical usage at medical centers and university hospitals throughout the United States. The VivaWave System has not been granted the CE Mark and is not available for sale or supply in Europe.
CONTACT: Rhode Island Hospital The Ruth Group Nancy Cawley Janine McCargo Senior Media Relations Officer Account Executive 401-444-4039 646-536-7033 ncawley@lifespan.orgjmccargo@theruthgroup.com
Rhode Island HospitalCONTACT: Nancy Cawley, Senior Media Relations Officer of Rhode IslandHospital, +1-401-444-4039, ncawley@lifespan.org; or Janine McCargo, AccountExecutive of The Ruth Group, +1-646-536-7033, jmccargo@theruthgroup.com, forRhode Island Hospital
