The Dr. Robert H. and Mary Ellen Harris ZAP-X Center for Noninvasive Neurosurgery at Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute of Jersey Shore University Medical Center will soon debut the first in the world ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Radiosurgery® with Synaptive brain only silent MRI for the treatment of brain tumors and conditions of the brain including trigeminal neuralgia and arteriovenous malformations (AVM).
The academic medical center will be the first hospital in the Northeast U.S. to offer ZAP-X, the first in the nation to offer Synaptive’s head only MRI, and the only in the world to use the technologies in combination. This pairing of technologies will markedly reduce time from diagnosis to treatment, hospital officials say.
“Having the latest advancements in technology to treat our patients is part of how Hackensack Meridian Health keeps getting better,” says Robert C. Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “The addition of ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery and Synaptive MRI in our network allows us to continue to offer the best care to the communities we serve throughout New Jersey. The first in the world pairing of technologies furthers our network as a health care leader and destination for care. ”
The ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery platform is utilized for cranial stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). As a non-invasive treatment for many primary and metastatic brain tumors, SRS is a well-established procedure that often provides equivalent outcomes compared to open surgery. It requires no incision and is painless. SRS is typically delivered in one to five brief outpatient visits and patients often return to normal activity the same day of the procedure.
ZAP-X was designed to advance modern radiosurgery with a gyroscopic design, which delivers hundreds of radiation beams to the unique contours of targeted lesions. The treatment requires no incision and is completely frameless. This capability aims to enhance patient outcomes by improving the ability to avoid critical structures such as the brain stem, eyes, and optic nerves, while also lowering healthy brain tissue exposure to preserve patient cognitive function.
Paired with Synaptive MRI, by Synaptive Medical Inc., for the first time in the world, the two will provide the care team with real-time imaging feedback at all stages of clinical intervention, thus shortening the time frame from diagnosis to treatment.
“ZAP-X paired with Synaptive MRI will be a powerful tool for us to help our patients combat brain tumors, with a few brief non-invasive, incisionless, outpatient treatments,” says Timothy Chen, MD, medical director, CNS radiation oncology program at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and medical director, proton therapy department of radiation oncology, Hackensack Meridian Health. “It will revolutionize radiosurgical care in the same way Gamma Knife and CyberKnife have.”
“The ZAP-X with Synaptive MRI program is the first in the world. It’s just one example of how Hackensack Meridian Health and Jersey Shore University Medical Center keep getting better for our patients,” adds Kenneth N. Sable, M.D., MBA, FACEP, regional president southern market, Hackensack Meridian Health.
