{"entity":{"id":"devices","kind":"section","name":"Devices & Physical Therapies","aka":[],"tldr":"Devices and physical therapies treat cancer with electric fields, heat, or sound rather than chemicals.","summary":"Devices and physical therapies treat cancer with electric fields, heat, light or sound rather than chemicals. The section groups tumour treating fields, with Optune now approved in pancreatic cancer, hyperthermia, HIFU and histotripsy, photodynamic therapy and photoimmunotherapy, electroporation and intraoperative devices. Technologies linking here include TTFields, focused ultrasound and histotripsy, focused-ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening, irreversible electroporation with NanoKnife, hyperthermia and magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia, photoimmunotherapy, intravesical therapy and scalp cooling. The companies Novocure, HistoSonics and Insightec also point to this section.","asOf":"2026-09-04","links":[{"label":"FDA: Medical devices","url":"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices"},{"label":"NCI: Hyperthermia to treat cancer","url":"https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/types/hyperthermia"}],"tags":[],"related":[],"cancers":[],"sections":[],"technologies":[],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":["technology-in-cancer-research-and-treatment"],"dependsOn":[],"notes":[],"order":18,"icon":"device"},"route":"/fronts/devices/","neighbours":{"journal":[{"id":"technology-in-cancer-research-and-treatment","kind":"journal","name":"Technology in cancer research & treatment","route":"/journals/technology-in-cancer-research-and-treatment/"}],"technology":[{"id":"bnct-accelerator-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Accelerator-based BNCT systems (NeuCure, nuBeam, NeuPex)","route":"/technologies/bnct-accelerator-systems/"},{"id":"biology-guided-radiotherapy","kind":"technology","name":"Biology-guided radiotherapy (RefleXion X1, SCINTIX)","route":"/technologies/biology-guided-radiotherapy/"},{"id":"c-arm-linac","kind":"technology","name":"C-arm medical linear accelerators (TrueBeam, Versa HD and others)","route":"/technologies/c-arm-linac/"},{"id":"carbon-ion-synchrotrons","kind":"technology","name":"Carbon-ion synchrotrons and facilities","route":"/technologies/carbon-ion-synchrotrons/"},{"id":"closed-system-transfer-devices","kind":"technology","name":"Closed-system transfer devices for hazardous drugs (PhaSeal, ChemoLock, Equashield)","route":"/technologies/closed-system-transfer-devices/"},{"id":"cryoablation-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Cryoablation systems","route":"/technologies/cryoablation-systems/"},{"id":"medical-imaging-scanner-manufacturing","kind":"technology","name":"CT, MRI and PET scanner manufacturing","route":"/technologies/medical-imaging-scanner-manufacturing/"},{"id":"cyberknife","kind":"technology","name":"CyberKnife robotic radiosurgery","route":"/technologies/cyberknife/"},{"id":"electrochemotherapy","kind":"technology","name":"Electrochemotherapy","route":"/technologies/electrochemotherapy/"},{"id":"electrochemotherapy-devices","kind":"technology","name":"Electrochemotherapy devices (Cliniporator)","route":"/technologies/electrochemotherapy-devices/"},{"id":"electron-beam-therapy-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Electron beam therapy systems (linac electrons, total skin electron units, mobile electron IORT)","route":"/technologies/electron-beam-therapy-systems/"},{"id":"rejuv-recon-facial-prosthetics","kind":"technology","name":"Facial reconstruction and facial prostheses: ears, orbits and noses","route":"/technologies/rejuv-recon-facial-prosthetics/"},{"id":"flash-research-accelerators","kind":"technology","name":"FLASH research accelerators (Oriatron, Mobetron FLASH, ProBeam FLASH)","route":"/technologies/flash-research-accelerators/"},{"id":"flow-cytometers","kind":"technology","name":"Flow cytometers","route":"/technologies/flow-cytometers/"},{"id":"hifu-histotripsy","kind":"technology","name":"Focused ultrasound & histotripsy","route":"/technologies/hifu-histotripsy/"},{"id":"bbb-focused-ultrasound","kind":"technology","name":"Focused-ultrasound blood-brain barrier opening","route":"/technologies/bbb-focused-ultrasound/"},{"id":"gamma-knife","kind":"technology","name":"Gamma Knife","route":"/technologies/gamma-knife/"},{"id":"gamma-probes-dose-calibrators","kind":"technology","name":"Gamma probes, handheld gamma cameras and dose calibrators","route":"/technologies/gamma-probes-dose-calibrators/"},{"id":"hand-held-ultrasound","kind":"technology","name":"Hand-held and point-of-care ultrasound","route":"/technologies/hand-held-ultrasound/"},{"id":"hipec-pipac-devices","kind":"technology","name":"HIPEC perfusion pumps and PIPAC nebulisers","route":"/technologies/hipec-pipac-devices/"},{"id":"hyperthermia","kind":"technology","name":"Hyperthermia","route":"/technologies/hyperthermia/"},{"id":"hyperthermia-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Hyperthermia systems (BSD-2000, EHY-2000, superficial and interstitial applicators)","route":"/technologies/hyperthermia-systems/"},{"id":"infusion-devices-vascular-access","kind":"technology","name":"Infusion pumps, ports, and ambulatory chemotherapy devices","route":"/technologies/infusion-devices-vascular-access/"},{"id":"il12-electroporation","kind":"technology","name":"Intratumoural gene electrotransfer (IL-12 plasmid)","route":"/technologies/il12-electroporation/"},{"id":"bcg-and-intravesical-therapy","kind":"technology","name":"Intravesical therapy (BCG, chemotherapy, devices, gene and viral therapy)","route":"/technologies/bcg-and-intravesical-therapy/"},{"id":"irreversible-electroporation","kind":"technology","name":"Irreversible electroporation (NanoKnife)","route":"/technologies/irreversible-electroporation/"},{"id":"litt-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Laser interstitial thermal therapy systems (NeuroBlate, Visualase)","route":"/technologies/litt-systems/"},{"id":"radiotherapy-equipment-manufacturing","kind":"technology","name":"Linac, proton system and brachytherapy machine manufacturing","route":"/technologies/radiotherapy-equipment-manufacturing/"},{"id":"hair-photobiomodulation","kind":"technology","name":"Low-level light therapy (photobiomodulation) for hair","route":"/technologies/hair-photobiomodulation/"},{"id":"magnetic-nanoparticle-hyperthermia","kind":"technology","name":"Magnetic nanoparticle hyperthermia","route":"/technologies/magnetic-nanoparticle-hyperthermia/"},{"id":"microwave-rf-ablation","kind":"technology","name":"Microwave and radiofrequency ablation systems","route":"/technologies/microwave-rf-ablation/"},{"id":"patient-positioning-surface-guidance-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Patient positioning and surface guidance systems (AlignRT, Catalyst, ExacTrac Dynamic)","route":"/technologies/patient-positioning-surface-guidance-systems/"},{"id":"percutaneous-hepatic-perfusion","kind":"technology","name":"Percutaneous hepatic perfusion (chemosaturation)","route":"/technologies/percutaneous-hepatic-perfusion/"},{"id":"photobiomodulation-mucositis","kind":"technology","name":"Photobiomodulation (low-level laser) for oral mucositis","route":"/technologies/photobiomodulation-mucositis/"},{"id":"photodynamic-therapy-lasers","kind":"technology","name":"Photodynamic therapy lasers and light sources","route":"/technologies/photodynamic-therapy-lasers/"},{"id":"photoimmunotherapy","kind":"technology","name":"Photoimmunotherapy & photodynamic therapy","route":"/technologies/photoimmunotherapy/"},{"id":"photothermal-nanoparticles","kind":"technology","name":"Photothermal (plasmonic) nanoparticle ablation","route":"/technologies/photothermal-nanoparticles/"},{"id":"proton-therapy-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Proton therapy machines: cyclotrons, synchrotrons and single-room systems","route":"/technologies/proton-therapy-systems/"},{"id":"radiotherapy-qa-phantoms-dosimeters","kind":"technology","name":"Radiotherapy QA phantoms and dosimeters (Sun Nuclear, IBA Dosimetry, PTW)","route":"/technologies/radiotherapy-qa-phantoms-dosimeters/"},{"id":"brachytherapy-afterloaders","kind":"technology","name":"Remote afterloaders for HDR brachytherapy","route":"/technologies/brachytherapy-afterloaders/"},{"id":"respiratory-gating-tumour-tracking-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Respiratory gating and tumour tracking systems (RPM, ABC, Calypso, Synchrony)","route":"/technologies/respiratory-gating-tumour-tracking-systems/"},{"id":"ring-gantry-linac","kind":"technology","name":"Ring-gantry linacs (Halcyon, Ethos)","route":"/technologies/ring-gantry-linac/"},{"id":"scalp-cooling","kind":"technology","name":"Scalp cooling (cold caps: DigniCap, Paxman)","route":"/technologies/scalp-cooling/"},{"id":"scrambler-therapy","kind":"technology","name":"Scrambler therapy (Calmare) for chemotherapy nerve pain","route":"/technologies/scrambler-therapy/"},{"id":"sonodynamic-therapy","kind":"technology","name":"Sonodynamic therapy","route":"/technologies/sonodynamic-therapy/"},{"id":"surgical-robot-platforms","kind":"technology","name":"Surgical robots: da Vinci, Hugo, Versius and single-port systems","route":"/technologies/surgical-robot-platforms/"},{"id":"rejuv-rehab-assistive-devices","kind":"technology","name":"The devices that do the restoring, and who pays for them","route":"/technologies/rejuv-rehab-assistive-devices/"},{"id":"tomotherapy","kind":"technology","name":"TomoTherapy and Radixact (helical radiotherapy)","route":"/technologies/tomotherapy/"},{"id":"transcranial-focused-ultrasound-systems","kind":"technology","name":"Transcranial focused ultrasound systems (Exablate Neuro, SonoCloud)","route":"/technologies/transcranial-focused-ultrasound-systems/"},{"id":"ttfields","kind":"technology","name":"Tumour treating fields (TTFields)","route":"/technologies/ttfields/"},{"id":"zap-x","kind":"technology","name":"ZAP-X gyroscopic radiosurgery","route":"/technologies/zap-x/"}],"paper":[{"id":"paper-panova-3-ttfields-locally-advanced-pancreatic-jco-2025","kind":"paper","name":"Tumor Treating Fields With Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma: Randomized, Open-Label, Pivotal Phase III PANOVA-3 Study","route":"/key-papers/paper-panova-3-ttfields-locally-advanced-pancreatic-jco-2025/"}],"company":[{"id":"accuray","kind":"company","name":"Accuray","route":"/companies/accuray/"},{"id":"ananya-health","kind":"company","name":"Ananya Health","route":"/companies/ananya-health/"},{"id":"angiodynamics","kind":"company","name":"AngioDynamics","route":"/companies/angiodynamics/"},{"id":"cmr-surgical","kind":"company","name":"CMR Surgical","route":"/companies/cmr-surgical/"},{"id":"empyrean-medical-systems","kind":"company","name":"Empyrean Medical Systems","route":"/companies/empyrean-medical-systems/"},{"id":"gt-medical-technologies","kind":"company","name":"GT Medical Technologies","route":"/companies/gt-medical-technologies/"},{"id":"histosonics","kind":"company","name":"HistoSonics","route":"/companies/histosonics/"},{"id":"hitachi","kind":"company","name":"Hitachi (particle therapy)","route":"/companies/hitachi/"},{"id":"icecure-medical","kind":"company","name":"IceCure Medical","route":"/companies/icecure-medical/"},{"id":"insightec","kind":"company","name":"Insightec","route":"/companies/insightec/"},{"id":"intraop-medical","kind":"company","name":"IntraOp Medical","route":"/companies/intraop-medical/"},{"id":"leo-cancer-care","kind":"company","name":"Leo Cancer Care","route":"/companies/leo-cancer-care/"},{"id":"luminate-medical","kind":"company","name":"Luminate Medical","route":"/companies/luminate-medical/"},{"id":"medtronic","kind":"company","name":"Medtronic","route":"/companies/medtronic/"},{"id":"monteris-medical","kind":"company","name":"Monteris Medical","route":"/companies/monteris-medical/"},{"id":"nearwave","kind":"company","name":"NearWave","route":"/companies/nearwave/"},{"id":"neutron-therapeutics","kind":"company","name":"Neutron Therapeutics","route":"/companies/neutron-therapeutics/"},{"id":"novocure","kind":"company","name":"Novocure","route":"/companies/novocure/"},{"id":"p-cure","kind":"company","name":"P-Cure","route":"/companies/p-cure/"},{"id":"perimeter-medical-imaging-ai","kind":"company","name":"Perimeter Medical Imaging AI","route":"/companies/perimeter-medical-imaging-ai/"},{"id":"profound-medical","kind":"company","name":"Profound Medical","route":"/companies/profound-medical/"},{"id":"protom","kind":"company","name":"ProTom International","route":"/companies/protom/"},{"id":"quantum-surgical","kind":"company","name":"Quantum Surgical","route":"/companies/quantum-surgical/"},{"id":"sonalasense","kind":"company","name":"SonALAsense","route":"/companies/sonalasense/"},{"id":"spectracure","kind":"company","name":"SpectraCure","route":"/companies/spectracure/"},{"id":"tae-life-sciences","kind":"company","name":"TAE Life Sciences","route":"/companies/tae-life-sciences/"},{"id":"theryq","kind":"company","name":"THERYQ","route":"/companies/theryq/"},{"id":"toshiba-energy-systems","kind":"company","name":"Toshiba Energy Systems & Solutions","route":"/companies/toshiba-energy-systems/"},{"id":"viewray","kind":"company","name":"ViewRay (MRIdian)","route":"/companies/viewray/"},{"id":"xact-robotics","kind":"company","name":"XACT Robotics","route":"/companies/xact-robotics/"},{"id":"xcision-medical-systems","kind":"company","name":"Xcision Medical Systems","route":"/companies/xcision-medical-systems/"},{"id":"zap-surgical-systems","kind":"company","name":"ZAP Surgical Systems","route":"/companies/zap-surgical-systems/"}],"institution":[{"id":"northwestern-lurie","kind":"institution","name":"Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center of Northwestern University","route":"/institutions/northwestern-lurie/"},{"id":"usz-zurich","kind":"institution","name":"University Hospital Zurich / Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich","route":"/institutions/usz-zurich/"}],"roadmap":[{"id":"devices-roadmap","kind":"roadmap","name":"Devices and physical therapies roadmap: heat and light → electric fields and focused sound → drug-releasing implants","route":"/roadmaps/devices-roadmap/"}]}}