CareFusion Hyperthermia Therapy
Based on the available evidence, there is no specific medical device or therapy called "CareFusion hyperthermia therapy" in the medical literature. CareFusion was a medical device company (now part of BD/Becton Dickinson), but the evidence does not identify any hyperthermia device manufactured or marketed under the CareFusion name.
What Hyperthermia Therapy Actually Is
Hyperthermia refers to thermal-based treatments that heat tissue to temperatures below 45°C, and this approach has not been proven effective for achieving lasting clinical benefits. 1
Key Temperature Distinctions
- Hyperthermia: Heating to temperatures below 45°C 1
- Thermotherapy: Heating to temperatures greater than 45°C 1
- Tissue coagulation: Occurs at temperatures in excess of 45°C to 50°C 1
Clinical Evidence for Hyperthermia (Below 45°C)
The American Urological Association guidelines explicitly state that hyperthermia in the temperature range below 45°C has no clearly demonstrable prostatic tissue effects. 1
Failed Clinical Applications
- Matzkin's review of 32 studies concluded that hyperthermia had not yet been proven effective in achieving lasting benefits 1
- A large multicenter, sham-controlled trial in the Paris Public Hospital System found neither transurethral nor transrectal hyperthermia superior to sham treatment for symptom improvement in men with BPH 1
Theoretical Basis (Not Validated in Practice)
- The principles underlying hyperthermia use were validated in cancer model systems, based on the concept that neoplastic cells are more sensitive to slight temperature elevations than normal cells 1
- However, these principles may not be operational in benign hyperplastic prostate tissue 1
Devices That Actually Exist
Low-Energy Hyperthermia Device (Not CareFusion)
TherMatrx, modeled after BSD Medical's hyperthermia device, delivers lower energy (7 watts) without water cooling. 1
- In a sham-controlled trial with 200 patients, TherMatrx demonstrated superior symptom relief compared to sham treatment 1
- However, after 3-month follow-up, no differences were found in flow-rate improvement between active treatment and sham-treated patients 1
Higher-Energy Thermotherapy Devices (Not Hyperthermia)
The AUA guidelines identify several FDA-approved thermotherapy devices (operating above 45°C), but none are associated with CareFusion: 1
- Prostatron (Urologix): 60+ watts with water-cooling balloon
- Targis (Urologix): 60+ watts with water-cooling balloon
- CoreTherm: Intraprostatic temperature feedback, no water cooling
Critical Clinical Distinction
If you are considering thermal therapy for a patient, you must distinguish between ineffective hyperthermia (<45°C) and potentially effective thermotherapy (>45°C). The development of transurethral microwave heat treatment (thermotherapy) was partially prompted by the failure of hyperthermia devices. 1