Accuray's Xsight(TM) Lung Tracking System Gains Clinical Acceptance as U.S. Adoption Rate Exceeds 97 Percent

July 23, 2007 at 8:31 AM EDT
Monte Carlo Dose Calculation Extends CyberKnife(R) System's Capabilities in Precision Radiation Delivery for Lung Tumors

SUNNYVALE, Calif., July 23 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), a global leader in the field of radiosurgery, announced today that Accuray's Xsight(TM) Lung Tracking System, a system designed for the non-invasive treatment of lung tumors, is quickly gaining clinical acceptance with more than 97 percent of new U.S. customers including Xsight Lung in their purchase of a new CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery System. Further extending the CyberKnife System's suite of products targeted toward the treatment of lung tumors is Accuray's Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithm, which is pending FDA 510(k) clearance.

"We have seen great success using Xsight Lung Tracking System to treat lung cancer non-invasively because of its ability to lock onto and deliver radiation to the tumor while minimizing damage to healthy tissue," said James Schwade, M.D., executive director of the CyberKnife Centers of Miami and Palm Beach. "The CyberKnife System with Xsight Lung Tracking allows us to break down the barriers to lung cancer treatment. We are now able to give new hope to patients -- such as the elderly and those considered medically or surgically inoperable -- who previously would have had no other option."

Working seamlessly with Accuray's CyberKnife System and Synchrony(R) Respiratory Tracking System, Xsight Lung Tracking is the only system that uses the body's soft tissue to directly track targets with radiosurgical accuracy. It delivers highly specialized soft tissue tracking by using the actual image intensity of the lung tumor to target the beam, therefore eliminating the need in some cases for implanted fiducial markers.

An additional tool in the treatment of lung cancer is Accuray's Monte Carlo dose calculation methodology, which is currently pending FDA 510(k) clearance. Accuray's Monte Carlo dose calculation is designed to be fast and accurate, enabling clinicians to more precisely determine, in a matter of minutes, the intensity of radiation to be delivered in areas where tissue densities vary. This is particularly critical with lung cancer, since healthy tissue surrounding tumors is made up of air cavities, which are less dense than the solid tumors.

"The addition of Monte Carlo dose calculation to Accuray's product portfolio will bring the gold standard of dose calculation to the CyberKnife System," said Charlie Ma, Ph.D., director of radiation physics at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia. "Incorporating Monte Carlo dose calculation capabilities into the CyberKnife System will enable clinicians to quickly and precisely plan treatment and accurately determine the resulting radiation delivered to tumors."

"The combination of Monte Carlo dose calculation, Xsight Lung Tracking and Synchrony Respiratory Tracking will take the CyberKnife System's ability to treat lung tumors to a new, far superior level," said Eric P. Lindquist, senior vice president and chief marketing officer of Accuray. "We are extremely excited about the high level of clinical acceptance for the CyberKnife System and Xsight Lung, with purchases coming in from cancer clinics around the world. These technologies are making it possible to effectively treat lung tumors in a wider array of patients. When FDA 510(k) clearance is obtained for the Monte Carlo dose calculation algorithm, clinicians will have all the best tools available to them in a single system."

About the CyberKnife(R) Robotic Radiosurgery System

The CyberKnife System represents the next generation of radiosurgery systems, combining continual image-guidance technology with a compact linear accelerator that has the flexibility to move in three dimensions according to the treatment plan. This combination, which is referred to as intelligent robotics, extends the benefits of radiosurgery to the treatment of tumors anywhere in the body. The CyberKnife System autonomously tracks, detects and corrects for tumor and patient movement in real-time during the procedure, enabling delivery of precise, high dose radiation typically with sub-millimeter accuracy.

About Accuray

Accuray Incorporated (Nasdaq: ARAY), based in Sunnyvale, Calif., is a global leader in the field of radiosurgery. Its CyberKnife System is the world's first and only commercially available intelligent robotic radiosurgery system designed to treat tumors anywhere in the body, typically with sub-millimeter accuracy. To date, it is estimated that the CyberKnife System has treated more than 30,000 patients worldwide. For more information, please visit http://www.accuray.com.

Safe Harbor Statement

The foregoing may contain certain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties, including uncertainties associated with the medical device industry. Except for the historical information contained herein, the matters set forth in this press release, clinical studies, regulatory review and approval, and commercialization of products are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date the statements are made and are based on information available at the time those statements are made and/or management's good faith belief as of that time with respect to future events. You should not put undue reliance on any forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual performance and results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make include: market acceptance of products; competing products, the combination of our products with complementary technology; and other risks detailed from time to time under the heading "Risk Factors" in our most recent form 10-Q filed on May 14, 2007 and may be updated from time to time by our other filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company's actual results of operations may differ significantly from those contemplated by such forward-looking statements as a result of these and other factors. We assume no obligation to update forward-looking statements to reflect actual performance or results, changes in assumptions or changes in other factors affecting forward-looking information, except to the extent required by applicable securities laws.

SOURCE Accuray Incorporated
07/23/2007
CONTACT: Susan Lehman of Rockpoint Public Relations, +1-510-832-6006,
susan@rockpointpr.com or Stephanie Tomei, Accuray Public Relations Manager,
+1-408-789-4234, stomei@accuray.com
Web site: http://www.accuray.com