Using sound waves to destroy cancer | Christine Gibbons | TEDxDetroit

[Music]

[Music] good morning by show of hands which I

good morning by show of hands which I

good morning by show of hands which I can’t really see how many out there have

can’t really see how many out there have

can’t really see how many out there have seen Star Trek for the voyage home

seen Star Trek for the voyage home

seen Star Trek for the voyage home okay well I’m sure you recall but the

okay well I’m sure you recall but the

okay well I’m sure you recall but the crew time travels back to 1986 San

crew time travels back to 1986 San

crew time travels back to 1986 San Francisco and in this scene here

Francisco and in this scene here

Francisco and in this scene here dr. McCoy has to rescue check off from

dr. McCoy has to rescue check off from

dr. McCoy has to rescue check off from the barbaric medicine of the 20th

the barbaric medicine of the 20th

the barbaric medicine of the 20th century well I’m here today to talk to

century well I’m here today to talk to

century well I’m here today to talk to you about some another person that’s

you about some another person that’s

you about some another person that’s that’s wrestling with and struggling

that’s wrestling with and struggling

that’s wrestling with and struggling with current modded modern-day medicine

with current modded modern-day medicine

with current modded modern-day medicine her name is sue sue is a seamstress in

her name is sue sue is a seamstress in

her name is sue sue is a seamstress in Barcelona she lives outside of the city

Barcelona she lives outside of the city

Barcelona she lives outside of the city and takes the train to work she’s

and takes the train to work she’s

and takes the train to work she’s married to her highschool sweetheart and

married to her highschool sweetheart and

married to her highschool sweetheart and they have three children recently sue

they have three children recently sue

they have three children recently sue has been having abdominal pains bouts of

has been having abdominal pains bouts of

has been having abdominal pains bouts of nausea and vomiting and so she went to

nausea and vomiting and so she went to

nausea and vomiting and so she went to her doctor he ran a battery of tests did

her doctor he ran a battery of tests did

her doctor he ran a battery of tests did an MRI and she got that dreaded phone

an MRI and she got that dreaded phone

an MRI and she got that dreaded phone call the diagnosis was cancer liver

call the diagnosis was cancer liver

call the diagnosis was cancer liver cancer and so she met with her

cancer and so she met with her

cancer and so she met with her oncologist and a surgeon and they

oncologist and a surgeon and they

oncologist and a surgeon and they reviewed her case more bad news the

reviewed her case more bad news the

reviewed her case more bad news the tumor was too large to be surgically

tumor was too large to be surgically

tumor was too large to be surgically resected which meant she had heard the

resected which meant she had heard the

resected which meant she had heard the the chances of long-term survival were

the chances of long-term survival were

the chances of long-term survival were greatly diminished also the tumor was

greatly diminished also the tumor was

greatly diminished also the tumor was located in a place that made it

located in a place that made it

located in a place that made it difficult for this type of therapy where

difficult for this type of therapy where

difficult for this type of therapy where large gauge needles are poked through

large gauge needles are poked through

large gauge needles are poked through the abdomen to the tumor and the heat

the abdomen to the tumor and the heat

the abdomen to the tumor and the heat then kills the tumor it was too close to

then kills the tumor it was too close to

then kills the tumor it was too close to a vein so her doctor recommended

a vein so her doctor recommended

a vein so her doctor recommended chemotherapy now sue knew that

chemotherapy now sue knew that

chemotherapy now sue knew that chemotherapy would likely not cure her

chemotherapy would likely not cure her

chemotherapy would likely not cure her but it most certainly make her feel

but it most certainly make her feel

but it most certainly make her feel miserable for months to come I’d now

miserable for months to come I’d now

miserable for months to come I’d now like to take you to the Future where sue

like to take you to the Future where sue

like to take you to the Future where sue has the potential to be offered at

has the potential to be offered at

has the potential to be offered at therapy that uses sound energy rather

therapy that uses sound energy rather

therapy that uses sound energy rather than heat or incision or chemo to to

than heat or incision or chemo to to

than heat or incision or chemo to to cure her and that and so talking about

cure her and that and so talking about

cure her and that and so talking about then ultrasound ultrasound has been used

then ultrasound ultrasound has been used

then ultrasound ultrasound has been used many to many for many years for imaging

many to many for many years for imaging

many to many for many years for imaging but researchers have been trying ways to

but researchers have been trying ways to

but researchers have been trying ways to use ultrasound

use ultrasound

use ultrasound to create heat to destroy tissues

to create heat to destroy tissues

to create heat to destroy tissues non-invasively well Charles Cain from

non-invasively well Charles Cain from

non-invasively well Charles Cain from the University of Michigan was taking a

the University of Michigan was taking a

the University of Michigan was taking a different path he was using wanted to

different path he was using wanted to

different path he was using wanted to use the the sound energy to create

use the the sound energy to create

use the the sound energy to create mechanical forces not heat to destroy

mechanical forces not heat to destroy

mechanical forces not heat to destroy tissue he and his colleagues at the

tissue he and his colleagues at the

tissue he and his colleagues at the University of Michigan Michigan actually

University of Michigan Michigan actually

University of Michigan Michigan actually found that the mechanical forces of heat

found that the mechanical forces of heat

found that the mechanical forces of heat could have great benefit as compared to

could have great benefit as compared to

could have great benefit as compared to heat the mechanical forces excuse me of

heat the mechanical forces excuse me of

heat the mechanical forces excuse me of sound they could use it to have great

sound they could use it to have great

sound they could use it to have great benefits those mechanical forces could

benefits those mechanical forces could

benefits those mechanical forces could actually be a lot more precise and they

actually be a lot more precise and they

actually be a lot more precise and they have the potential for more rapid

have the potential for more rapid

have the potential for more rapid healing quicker quicker recovery and

healing quicker quicker recovery and

healing quicker quicker recovery and less pain so Charles and his colleagues

less pain so Charles and his colleagues

less pain so Charles and his colleagues together with the university’s

together with the university’s

together with the university’s technology transfer office licensed that

technology transfer office licensed that

technology transfer office licensed that technology to a newly formed company

technology to a newly formed company

technology to a newly formed company called histo Sonics and histah Sonic’s

called histo Sonics and histah Sonic’s

called histo Sonics and histah Sonic’s got to work developing a medical device

got to work developing a medical device

got to work developing a medical device that would be able to deliver histah

that would be able to deliver histah

that would be able to deliver histah tripsy and the most important component

tripsy and the most important component

tripsy and the most important component of that is the ultrasonic transducer in

of that is the ultrasonic transducer in

of that is the ultrasonic transducer in the fundamental part of the ultrasonic

the fundamental part of the ultrasonic

the fundamental part of the ultrasonic transducer is the piezo electric element

transducer is the piezo electric element

transducer is the piezo electric element this one when electrical electricity is

this one when electrical electricity is

this one when electrical electricity is applied to it vibrates and those

applied to it vibrates and those

applied to it vibrates and those vibrations then create an ultrasonic

vibrations then create an ultrasonic

vibrations then create an ultrasonic wave that can propagate through tissue

wave that can propagate through tissue

wave that can propagate through tissue now by arranging an array of these

now by arranging an array of these

now by arranging an array of these elements in a concave formation the

elements in a concave formation the

elements in a concave formation the transducer then becomes capable of

transducer then becomes capable of

transducer then becomes capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves that then

transmitting ultrasonic waves that then

transmitting ultrasonic waves that then increases sharply in strength at the

increases sharply in strength at the

increases sharply in strength at the focus by by pulsing those waves we

focus by by pulsing those waves we

focus by by pulsing those waves we create the history of sea effect to

create the history of sea effect to

create the history of sea effect to destroy tissue at the cellular level now

destroy tissue at the cellular level now

destroy tissue at the cellular level now based on this principle the vortex rx is

based on this principle the vortex rx is

based on this principle the vortex rx is being developed to provide physicians

being developed to provide physicians

being developed to provide physicians the ability to non-invasively treat

the ability to non-invasively treat

the ability to non-invasively treat tissue the transducer is placed over the

tissue the transducer is placed over the

tissue the transducer is placed over the the target in this case a tumor in the

the target in this case a tumor in the

the target in this case a tumor in the liver sound energy passes through the

liver sound energy passes through the

liver sound energy passes through the body to those tissues creating an energy

body to those tissues creating an energy

body to those tissues creating an energy field that creates bubbles then and the

field that creates bubbles then and the

field that creates bubbles then and the expansion and collapse of those bubbles

expansion and collapse of those bubbles

expansion and collapse of those bubbles is what mechanically then fraction

is what mechanically then fraction

is what mechanically then fraction eights those tissues

eights those tissues

eights those tissues now other therapeutic ultrasound

now other therapeutic ultrasound

now other therapeutic ultrasound generates vibration

generates vibration

generates vibration that then creates heat to destroy those

that then creates heat to destroy those

that then creates heat to destroy those tissues which could then potentially

tissues which could then potentially

tissues which could then potentially damage other tissues nearby not targeted

damage other tissues nearby not targeted

damage other tissues nearby not targeted because of thermal spread with histah

because of thermal spread with histah

because of thermal spread with histah trip see that pulsing is provided in

trip see that pulsing is provided in

trip see that pulsing is provided in very very short pulses that allows then

very very short pulses that allows then

very very short pulses that allows then a mechanical force and so that the range

a mechanical force and so that the range

a mechanical force and so that the range of destruction of that tissue can be

of destruction of that tissue can be

of destruction of that tissue can be precisely controlled and monitored in

precisely controlled and monitored in

precisely controlled and monitored in real time the tissue then he gets

real time the tissue then he gets

real time the tissue then he gets naturally absorbed in the body after the

naturally absorbed in the body after the

naturally absorbed in the body after the treatment and the natural healthy cells

treatment and the natural healthy cells

treatment and the natural healthy cells can regrow this is an MRI image after

can regrow this is an MRI image after

can regrow this is an MRI image after histah tripsy treatment in a preclinical

histah tripsy treatment in a preclinical

histah tripsy treatment in a preclinical model that dark circle there is the

model that dark circle there is the

model that dark circle there is the treatment zone notice the precise

treatment zone notice the precise

treatment zone notice the precise surgical like boundaries that we treated

surgical like boundaries that we treated

surgical like boundaries that we treated where we wanted to and nowhere else

where we wanted to and nowhere else

where we wanted to and nowhere else now imagine sue being offered this

now imagine sue being offered this

now imagine sue being offered this therapy she would lie down at a table

therapy she would lie down at a table

therapy she would lie down at a table the transducer placed over her abdomen

the transducer placed over her abdomen

the transducer placed over her abdomen sound waves then generating in the into

sound waves then generating in the into

sound waves then generating in the into the body

the body

the body now her physician could see in real-time

now her physician could see in real-time

now her physician could see in real-time that treatment effect because the

that treatment effect because the

that treatment effect because the bubbles from his to trip sea are very

bubbles from his to trip sea are very

bubbles from his to trip sea are very easily seen under ultrasound or MRI

easily seen under ultrasound or MRI

easily seen under ultrasound or MRI visualization sue could then maybe not

visualization sue could then maybe not

visualization sue could then maybe not even need general anesthesia the precise

even need general anesthesia the precise

even need general anesthesia the precise targeted treatment of those tissues done

targeted treatment of those tissues done

targeted treatment of those tissues done without incision and without needles now

without incision and without needles now

without incision and without needles now this type of treatment then is brought

this type of treatment then is brought

this type of treatment then is brought forward in our company histo sonics it

forward in our company histo sonics it

forward in our company histo sonics it takes a very special team here’s a

takes a very special team here’s a

takes a very special team here’s a picture of the team there’s me and my

picture of the team there’s me and my

picture of the team there’s me and my co-founders Tom and Jim and our first

co-founders Tom and Jim and our first

co-founders Tom and Jim and our first two employees Durant does Russell and

two employees Durant does Russell and

two employees Durant does Russell and Dan that’s me with the blonde hair and I

Dan that’s me with the blonde hair and I

Dan that’s me with the blonde hair and I love this picture because it was drawn

love this picture because it was drawn

love this picture because it was drawn by Russell’s daughter Justine and it

by Russell’s daughter Justine and it

by Russell’s daughter Justine and it along with other art created by art are

along with other art created by art are

along with other art created by art are employed by the employees children grace

employed by the employees children grace

employed by the employees children grace the alt the walls of our office at the

the alt the walls of our office at the

the alt the walls of our office at the company and so that the the team

company and so that the the team

company and so that the the team here is driving this technology towards

here is driving this technology towards

here is driving this technology towards patient care and it takes a very special

patient care and it takes a very special

patient care and it takes a very special team as I said we’ve been able to

team as I said we’ve been able to

team as I said we’ve been able to educate the medical device regulators

educate the medical device regulators

educate the medical device regulators throughout the time this time frame

throughout the time this time frame

throughout the time this time frame about the development of the device

about the development of the device

about the development of the device itself as well as the technology

itself as well as the technology

itself as well as the technology fundamentals we’ve had to create new

fundamentals we’ve had to create new

fundamentals we’ve had to create new things and solve engineering challenges

things and solve engineering challenges

things and solve engineering challenges we’ve also have to tell our story this

we’ve also have to tell our story this

we’ve also have to tell our story this team tells the story a lot we tell the

team tells the story a lot we tell the

team tells the story a lot we tell the story to potential clinical

story to potential clinical

story to potential clinical collaborators we tell the story to

collaborators we tell the story to

collaborators we tell the story to technology resources and we tell the

technology resources and we tell the

technology resources and we tell the Technic the story to a lot of potential

Technic the story to a lot of potential

Technic the story to a lot of potential investors we’re always ready to give a

investors we’re always ready to give a

investors we’re always ready to give a pitch to a potential investor and when

pitch to a potential investor and when

pitch to a potential investor and when pressed I even gave a pitch at my own

pressed I even gave a pitch at my own

pressed I even gave a pitch at my own son’s wedding and when we tell this

son’s wedding and when we tell this

son’s wedding and when we tell this story we hear lots of things some people

story we hear lots of things some people

story we hear lots of things some people say that sounds like Star Trek this

say that sounds like Star Trek this

say that sounds like Star Trek this could be benign and based on healing

could be benign and based on healing

could be benign and based on healing device to replace barbaric medicine

device to replace barbaric medicine

device to replace barbaric medicine others say that sounds like Star Trek

others say that sounds like Star Trek

others say that sounds like Star Trek that’s too off in the future that’s

that’s too off in the future that’s

that’s too off in the future that’s unrealistic and when we get that

unrealistic and when we get that

unrealistic and when we get that feedback it’s very helpful to us because

feedback it’s very helpful to us because

feedback it’s very helpful to us because it helps us remember sue and the

it helps us remember sue and the

it helps us remember sue and the millions of others who suffer from the

millions of others who suffer from the

millions of others who suffer from the the pains of barbaric medicine of today

the pains of barbaric medicine of today

the pains of barbaric medicine of today it helps us to refine the story of our

it helps us to refine the story of our

it helps us to refine the story of our message of the future of surgery and the

message of the future of surgery and the

message of the future of surgery and the future of surgery is becoming a reality

future of surgery is becoming a reality

future of surgery is becoming a reality right here in the Detroit area we expect

right here in the Detroit area we expect

right here in the Detroit area we expect to treat our first patient early next

to treat our first patient early next

to treat our first patient early next year

year

year and so when we’re here today to share

and so when we’re here today to share

and so when we’re here today to share positive ideas with the world from

positive ideas with the world from

positive ideas with the world from Detroit and I’d like to say my pipe idea

Detroit and I’d like to say my pipe idea

Detroit and I’d like to say my pipe idea besides fighting disease with sound is

besides fighting disease with sound is

besides fighting disease with sound is to remember sue and dismember under

to remember sue and dismember under

to remember sue and dismember under millions of others who have that feeling

millions of others who have that feeling

millions of others who have that feeling of hopelessness because when we remember

of hopelessness because when we remember

of hopelessness because when we remember them and those those who have the life

them and those those who have the life

them and those those who have the life of life’s work in health care we

of life’s work in health care we

of life’s work in health care we remember the ultimate reason why we do

remember the ultimate reason why we do

remember the ultimate reason why we do what we do thank you

what we do thank you

what we do thank you [Applause]