In 2020, Sirius Medical, located in the Eindhoven High Tech Campus, launched a non-radioactive localization system to improve breast cancer surgery. The exact location of the tumor is marked by very small implantable "seeds," which include small magnets from Waalre's Goudsmit Magnetics. This treatment causes less damage to surrounding tissue and reduces stress for patients.

A tumor is a neoplasm resulting from abnormal proliferation and differentiation of body cells under various initiating and promoting factors. Once formed, the neoplasm does not stop proliferating even if the cause is eliminated. Its growth is not subject to normal physiological regulation and it destroys normal tissues and organs. Regarding the progression of tumor development, the difficulties in tumor treatment are: 1) The etiology of most tumors is unclear, making it impossible to completely cure them fundamentally. 2) Malignant tumors are groups of uncontrolled cells capable of infinite proliferation. During proliferation, they destroy the structure and function of normal tissues and organs, affecting normal physiological functions; for example, the immune function of most malignant tumor patients declines to varying degrees, preventing the immune system from initiating normal immune procedures to inhibit tumor growth. 3) Tumor treatment cannot end merely with the patient's short-term recovery after treatment, because tumors are highly prone to recurrence and metastasis, requiring continued active treatment if these occur. Main treatments for malignant tumors include surgical therapy, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immunotherapy. Specific treatment plans should be determined through multidisciplinary team discussions involving physicians from multiple specialties, based on tumor nature, staging, and the patient's overall condition. From a therapeutic perspective, the difficulty in tumor treatment lies in the limitations of each treatment modality; tumors cannot be cured by a single method, and some treatments cause additional damage to the normal body.

Very small tumors  

Tumor surgery non-radioactive localization systems use German goudsmit magnets.

The advantage for surgeons is that they can treat very small tumors at an early stage. Until now, surgeons have used metal anchor wires or radioactive seeds to locate tumors and soft tissue. This is unsatisfactory for patients and poses logistical challenges. Due to relevant safety protocols, many hospitals avoid using radioactive seeds. Furthermore, treatment can be performed faster and more affordably.

Tumor localization  

Tumor surgery non-radioactive localization systems use German goudsmit magnets.

The system, called Pintuition, consists of a needle, a seed containing a magnet, and a detection system. The seed can be placed 180 days before surgery to mark the target in soft tissue. During surgery, the Sirius Pintuition probe provides highly accurate real-time feedback and directional guidance for the marked tissue. The probe is reusable and compatible with metal instruments commonly used in surgery. The neodymium magnets are robust, rice-grain sized, and coated to prevent corrosion.

Tumor surgery non-radioactive localization systems use German goudsmit magnets.

Sirius Medical imposes very strict requirements on magnet tolerances and quality, precisely documented in measurement protocols and reports. Goudsmit was selected as the supplier due to its IATF16949 and AS9120 certifications.