Tiny Beacon Transponder for Guided Radiation Therapy in Soft Tissue Tumors Unveiled

A new transponder, the size of a grain of rice, and intended for guided radiation therapy in soft tissue tumors has received US FDA 510(k) clearance and the European CE marking.

The transponder was developed by a leading provider of solutions for radiotherapy, radiosurgery, proton therapy, and brachytherapy, and can be implanted in soft tissue anywhere in the body, except for the lungs. The smaller transponder can benefit a broader range of patients than the previous version which was twice as large.


Varian Medical Systems (Palo Alto, CA, USA) announced the new Calypso 17G Beacon transponder that guides radiation beams during treatment with Varian's Edge radiosurgery system and medical linear accelerators. The transponder emits a nonionizing signal that is tracked by the Calypso system and is the only device available that can deliver continuous (25 Hz update) 3D information on the position of a tumor. The system ensures that the prescribed radiation dose is delivered only to the tumor, and can reduce the treatment margin, protect healthy tissue, and reduce side effects.

Zachary S. Collins, MD, head of interventional radiology at the Kansas University Medical Center, (KUMC; Kansas City, KS, USA), said, "The new 17G implantation device has half the cross-sectional area compared to the prior 14G technology, increasing patient comfort and improving access to tumors. The smaller technology may make the use of Calypso viable in a broader population of liver patients and may make it possible for interventional radiologists to implant Beacon transponders in the pancreas without an open surgical procedure."

Related Links:
Varian Medical Systems
KUMC