ZAP- X Treats tumors, lesions, neuroglogical conditions in the brain and neck.

The Forefront of Innovation.

Zap-X® 3rd System in the US

Now Available in South Florida

ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Radiosurgery System

Treat tumors and lesions in the brain, head, and neck.

The ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Radiosurgery System is an unparalleled technological innovation with data to support its medical results, safety, and efficiency. This therapeutic radiation device is intended for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment for a variety of diseases such as tumors, lesions, and neurological conditions in the brain and neck. Using a linear accelerator, it generates a combination of beams that can precisely target and eliminate the abnormal objects down to the nanometer leaving the adjacent areas unharmed and healthy.

To see if ZAP-X® is right for you call us at 786.871.6856 or schedule a consultation today!

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The Zap-X Process

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Initial Consultation

The first step of the Zap X therapy process is a consultation to determine if treatment is right for you. During this visit, medical records and imaging studies such as MRI or CT scans will be reviewed, a physical exami­nation is conducted and risks and benefits of  treatment options are discussed. If you are a candidate and Zap X is chosen, an appointment for simulation will be scheduled. Your Patient Navigator will help you with all aspects of your treatment.

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Second Step

Simulation

Following the initial consultation, you will undergo a treatment “simulation” . The simulation allows the Zap X team to identify the precise location, size and shape of the treatment area. In order to accomplish this, a pliable mesh mask will be custom made to precisely fit you and then CT scans will be taken using IV contrast. This is very much like having a diagnostic CT scan performed. You will be placed in the CT scanner while wearing the mesh mask so that we maintain the same body position on the day of treatment. 

There is no preparation or special instructions and you will be here for 30-45minutes during the simulation session.

Your Patient Navigator will be available to provide pertinent details regarding your treatment and answer your questions.

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Treatment Planning

Treatment Planning

The Zap X treatment planning team consists of the neurosurgeon, radiation oncologist, and physicist. Using the CT scan images from simulation day  (and MRI if needed), they work to design the field of radiation therapy treatment. The goal is to deliver a high dose of radiation to the target, while minimizing the amount of radiation to nearby normal tissue. Preserving normal tissue is critical as it prevents side effects. Treatment plans are customized for each patient based on individual conditions and treatment goals. The treatment planning can be a complex process to ensure accuracy and safety and may take several days to complete.

Some plans require more than one treatment session; others may be completed in just one session. Once the treatment plan is completed, your treatment day(s) will be confirmed and a one month post treatment visit and MRI will be scheduled.

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Treatment Day

Treatment Day

On the day of treatment, you will lay on the ZapX treatment table and positioned using your custom made mask. Radiation therapists are responsible for positioning the patient and for delivering the radiation dose prescribed during treatment planning. Images are taken during to confirm that the target being treated has not changed position. Radiation therapists view the patient from monitors in the Zap X suite. You can talk with the therapist via intercom during treatment. Treatment sessions vary in length but typically do not last long.  You may be in the treatment room for no more than 30 minutes depending on your individualized treatment plan. Much of this time is used to ensure accurate positioning. Once treatment is completed the radiation therapist will help you off the table and you will have the opportunity to have the treatment team address any concerns you may have. 

Should your treatment plan require more than one session to complete, you will return for additional sessions as scheduled.

Most patients do not require any pre-treatment preparation or sedation during treatments.

Your nursing care and patient navigator team will address any concerns you may have in order to make your treatment sessions comfortable and anxiety free.

You will be able to bring your personal devices and listen to your favorite music or podcast during treatment. Unlike any other type of radiation therapy and in keeping with our commitment to the benefits of family centered care; you may choose to have a family member or friend with you in the treatment room.

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Post Treatment Follow-up

Post Treatment Follow-up

You will return to clinic for follow-up visits and imaging studies such as MRI as instructed; based on your individual condition to monitor the results of your treatment. Reports and records regarding your care and procedure are sent to the physicians you designate. Our doctors and other providers are always available to address any questions and concerns you may have.

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ZAP-X is a computer controlled machine that delivers radiation to an intended target in the brain. ZAP-X treats benign and malignant tumors in addition to trigeminal neuralgia, cervical lesions or tumors. ZAP-X is the leading tool in treating diseases of the brain and the Miami Neuroscience Center is the Third hospital in the nation to acquire this cutting edge technology.

ZAP-X is done on an outpatient basis and requires no anesthesia, scalpels, incisions and no overnight hospital stays. Open Brain surgery requires an overnight stay and the patient may be at risk for other complications.

Due to the advanced technology used in ZAP-X the patient requires no prior preparation unlike conventional surgery.

You will be seen by our world renowned brain surgeon in consultation. Once the neurosurgeon identifies you as candidate, you will then be fitted with a custom frame mask that will be created specifically for you. You will then come into our outpatient facility and be treated and monitored by our expert team of Neurosurgeons, radiation oncologist, physicist and radiation therapist. Our team will be with you every step of the way.

Most patients no recovery time is required and can report back to their normal activities.

Questions?

We're here to answer all questions. All your questions are valid and welcome.

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Safety

ZAP-X® is a self-shielded system that limits radiation exposure levels for the patient, public, and clinical staff. Significant radiation shielding is integrated in both the patient treatment sphere and the patient table which is enclosed by a shielded rotary shell and vertical door during treatment. Even when operating under a full clinical workload, these unique designs limit radiation exposure levels outside the system to a safe level that meets the standards of the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NCRP).

Accuracy

Its mechanical design enables the beams to fire from a wide variety of positions, resulting in excellent solid angle coverage. The mechanized patient table also assists in accurate positioning and treatment. Unlike other technologies, ZAP-X® provides image guidance with automated re-alignment both prior to and throughout each radiosurgical treatment. This eliminates the possibility of target shifts during the treatment that might go undetected in other technologies and injure the surrounding healthy structures.

ZAP-X® Treatment Planning

Primary image type

X-Ray Computed Tomography (CT)

Secondary image fusion types

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

Additional X-Ray Computed Tomography (CT)

Planning type

Isocentric Technique (the focus point a.k.a. the icocenter where all beams are targeted)

Dose calculation algorithm

Ray tracing

The plan is then transferred to the treatment delivery system where the physician can deliver the treatment. 

During treatment, the patient's head is immobilized with a frameless, non-invasive thermoplastic mask which enables simple fractionation, which means the treatment can be broken into independent steps, enabling brief patient-friendly outpatient visits.

Clinical Applications

  • Primary/Metastatic Brain Tumors
  • Functional Disease (e.g. trigeminal neuralgia)
  • Vascular Disease (e.g. AVM)
  • Head & Neck

Gold-Standard Precision: ZAP-X utilizes unique gyroscopic motion to direct radiosurgical beams that precisely focus radiation on the tumor and help protect nearby healthy brain tissue.

Comfort: ZAP-X offers a painless, more patient-friendly experience by eliminating the need for historical invasive stereotactic head frames.

Safety: Because patient safety cannot be overstated, ZAP-X deploys a first-in-kind dose validation system that audits each treatment in real-time.

Confidence: Where previous radiosurgical platforms required patients to be isolated in a shielded radiation “bunker”,  ZAP-X is the first and only vault-free system that allows the clinical team to be present and readily accessible in the treatment room.

Convenience: The ZAP-X “scan-plan-treat” process can be broken into multiple brief outpatient visits, as opposed to the contiguous full-day procedures commonplace with previous radiosurgical platforms.

To see if ZAP-X® is right for you call us at 786.871.6856 or schedule a consultation today!