Profound sees first Johns Hopkins Tulsa case

Executive Summary

• Profound Medical Corp. reports that Johns Hopkins Hospital has treated its first commercial (non-clinical-trial) patient using the Tulsa-Pro® system.
• This milestone marks the official launch of Tulsa-Pro at Johns Hopkins Medicine, coinciding with the opening of their new interventional MRI (iMRI) suite.
• The event highlights the transition of MRI from diagnostic imaging to a real-time therapeutic platform for treating prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Key Details

• First Commercial Case: Johns Hopkins Hospital treated its first non-clinical-trial prostate cancer patient using Profound Medical’s Tulsa-Pro system.
• Facility Context: The launch coincides with the opening of Johns Hopkins Medicine's new interventional MRI (iMRI) suite, designed for surgical procedures benefiting from real-time MRI precision.
• Technology Mechanism: The Tulsa procedure uses robotically controlled directional ultrasound delivered from inside the urethra to heat prostate tissue to 55–57 degrees Celsius ("kill temperature").
• Safety and Efficacy Features:
  • Real-time MRI thermography allows for continuous visualization and autonomous temperature adjustment.
  • The procedure results in no procedural blood loss and no overnight hospital stay.
  • It aims to minimize side effects associated with surgery or radiation, such as urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction.
• Clinical History: Johns Hopkins University was an early participant in the clinical development of Tulsa-Pro, including the TACT pivotal clinical trial (leading to FDA clearance) and the recent randomized prospective postmarket Captain trial.
• CEO Commentary: Arun Menawat, CEO and Chairman of Profound Medical, noted that leading institutions like Johns Hopkins are at the forefront of adopting MRI-guided therapeutic platforms for superior clinical outcomes.

Notable Quotes

• "The implementation of Tulsa-Pro in a newly built interventional MR suite specifically designed for surgical procedures that benefit from the precision of real-time MRI to deliver superior clinical outcomes is a growing movement. Accordingly, it is not surprising that a leading institution such as Johns Hopkins Medicine is at the forefront of this trend." — Arun Menawat, CEO and Chairman, Profound Medical Corp.