TAMPA, Fla. — At Tampa General Hospital, AI technology is being used to treat patients with benign and cancerous tumors, as well as neurological disorders.

What You Need To Know

  • The CyberKnife S7 is a robotic, non-invasive radiation therapy device that employs real-time, AI-driven motion tracking and synchronization treatment delivery for stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) treatments

  • The CyberKnife is capable of treating cancerous and benign tumors throughout the body, as well as neurologic disorders, in as little as 15 minutes

  • The tool, through its speed and advanced precision, is expected to expand the capabilities of Tampa General Cancer Institute’s newly established Center for Precision Radiosurgery

  • CyberKnife S7, made by a company called Accuray Incorporated, can be used to treat cancerous and non-cancerous tumors throughout the body including the prostate, lung, brain, spine, head, neck, liver, kidney and pancreas. It can be an alternative to surgery or for patients with inoperable or surgically complex tumors

Inside the TGH Brandon Outpatient Center, Director of Radio Surgery, Dr. Brian Collins checks in on Melina Johnson. 

“How are your headaches?” asks Collins. 

“They are doing pretty good,” said Johnson. 

The pair is talking about Johnson’s recent treatments involving radiation. Johnson has been undergoing radiation following a melanoma diagnosis, where they found several masses and spots within her head. 

“Late last year I was getting really bad headaches. I kind of attributed that to rock climbing because I am a very active person and, you know, falling a lot. You know, doing crazy stuff out on the boulder pads,” said Johnson. 

Removing multiple masses, though, in a person’s head, isn’t done easily. So Collins decided to use an AI tool called the CyberKnife S 7. 

“The CyberKnife is just a very sophisticated way of delivering highly focused radiation to any target in the body,” said Collins.

In Johnson’s case, she is fitted with a netted mask over her head, strapped down so she does not move. The radiation is then delivered to the problem spot. 

This kind of AI technology is a big deal in the radiation world. 

“It used to be the radio surgery, just used to be a very small part of the radiation we did, but it’s approaching 50% of the radiation we do. And we feel like it’s better for patients,” said Collins. 

Melanoma requires a very high dose of radiation to be delivered, very precisely, in order to eradicate it. 

This is where the AI part really helps. 

“So when you’re having like a robot deliver the radiation instead of using four beams, you can use 50,” said Collins. 

Johnson has now gone through a few rounds, and says she is feeling hopeful this will help her cancer cells stop dividing and growing. 

“I just feel like I’m taken care of,” said Johnson. 

With no down time following each round with the CyberKnife, because it is non-invasive, Johnson can more quickly go back to doing normal activities in life.