Harmonus Inc. — Department of Health and Human Services SBIR Phase I: NIBIB

Description

DESCRIPTION provided by applicant Harmonus Inc is proposing to develop a patient specific disposable tool for directing needle entry during MRI guided prostate biopy Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U S Over cases of cancer were diagnosed in with almost deaths Prostate cancer is treatable if properly diagnosed By accurately targeting MRI visible regions suspected of containing cancer our system will improve the ability to find life threatening tumors and reducethe chance of unnecessarily treating low risk cases compared to current methods Fabrication will be based on a rapid precision machine for creating the guide from a sterile ki In Phase I we will I Develop and demonstrate our novel method for producing the guides and Verify that the manufacturing process maintains sterility of the guide The product after successful applications in biopsies can be extended for use in other MRI guided procedures and treatments for prostate cancer PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE Harmonus Inc is proposing to develop a patient specific needle guide for directing needle entry during MRI guided prostate biopsy The proposed research will benefit public health by improving patient quality of life through increased identification of aggressive cancer reduced overtreatment of non aggressive tumors and reduced biopsy complications associated with current prostate biopsy methods Our approach will reduce infection risk and will be less expensive than robotic systems offered as alternatives