InSightec developed ExAblate® 2000– a product that integrates Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) with focused ultrasound energy -- as a new treatment modality that can replace invasive procedures and provide therapeutic alternatives to millions of patients with serious diseases around the globe.
ExAblate was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in October 2004 to treat symptomatic uterine fibroids and to date over 3000 women have been treated worldwide for symptomatic uterine fibroids. InSightec has begun clinical trials to study the technology’s use in other indications including breast, bone, liver and brain tumors.
ExAblate also received the European CE mark for treating pain palliation caused by bone metastatses.
Brief History
InSightec was founded in 1999 when GE Healthcare (then GE Medical Systems) and Elbit Medical Imaging transferred their proprietary technology to the company to enable it to concentrate on developing the promising MR guided focused ultrasound surgery both companies had investigated. Since then, InSightec has invested over $100 million in research and development. The company holds over 30 patents with additional intellectual property pending.
ExAblate 2000, InSightec's first product, integrates focused ultrasound thermal ablation with GE Healthcare’s MR imaging capabilities to provide a non-invasive method for destroying or ablating targeted tissue. During this outpatient procedure, the patient lies inside the MRI scanner, which provides three-dimensional images of the target and surrounding tissue, enabling precise guidance of the ultrasound waves. High intensity focused ultrasound waves are directed into the body at a specific tissue, and at the focal point, raise the temperature of the targeted tissue to 65° to 85° Celsius, destroying it. The thermal imaging capabilities of the MRI scanner provide real-time feedback on all aspects of the procedure which gives the physician a high degree of control over its therapeutic outcome.
The device received the European CE mark and ISO 13485 and is commercially available in the US, Israel, Europe, and Asia. ExAblate received the European CE mark for treating pain palliation caused by bone metastases which represents the potential for expanding this non-invasive technology for oncology applications.
In March 2007 InSightec was awarded the Red Herring I00 Europe 2007 award. Red Herring magazine has named the company to its Red Herring 100 Europe 2007 list of the top privately-held technology companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA).
In February 2005,ExAblate® 2000 system was highlighted as one of Advanced Imaging’s ” 2005 Imaging Solutions of the Year”.
In November 2004 ExAblate 2000 was awarded the Wall Street Journal’s 2004 Technology Innovation bronze award.
In October 2003 ExAblate 2000 was awarded the 2004 European Information Society Technologies grand prize for innovation and potential to serve mankind.
Business Week has called ExAblate 2000 “one of 25 ideas for a changing world.”
The 135 InSightec staff includes world class scientists and engineers with extensive experience in the wide variety of disciplines involved with this enhanced technology and teamed with leading application specialists, manufacturing, service and other personnel. The company is headquartered in Tirat Carmel, Israel, near the port city of Haifa. Its US offices are in Dallas, Texas.
InSightec has established clinical collaborations with leading hospitals and medical research institutions around the world. Many of these sites participate in sponsored trials to gather clinical data that will advance the company’s technology and create an ever-widening spectrum of clinical applications. InSightec has over 53 sites globally.
InSightec is a privately held company. Its shareholders are Elbit Medical Imaging, MediTech Advisors, and General Electric, together with InSightec management, employees and directors.