Saint Francis Announces Breakthrough Breast Cancer Treatment

Saint Francis Hospital

HARTFORD, CT — Saint Francis Hospital announced recently its adoption of a new tumor marker system that reduces pain and increases accuracy during breast cancer surgery.

Specifically, it is called "Elucent’s EnVisio Surgical Navigation System and SmartClip" technology.

"The new technology system represents a significant improvement for women undergoing lumpectomies, a surgery that removes cancerous tumors and some breast tissue, improving both clinical and cosmetic outcomes by replacing the typically used, but painful and non-precise, hook-wire localization procedure," wrote the hospital, which is located in Hartford.

“With approximately 1-in-8 women in the U.S. expected to develop breast cancer over her lifetime, it is vital that we continue to innovate and push the standard of care for our expanding patient population,” said Dr. Christina Metcalf, division director of breast surgery at Saint Francis Hospital, which is owned and operated by Trinity Health of New England.

“We are extremely proud to bring this state-of-the-art technology to serve our patients facing breast cancer. Providing the best patient outcomes is important to us, and by using the EnVisio system, we are elevating our facility to the leading edge of breast cancer care. The EnVisio system allows us to streamline the patient’s surgical experience and eliminate an additional step on an already stressful day.”

This advanced technology allows physicians to implant the wireless SmartClip Soft Tissue Markers at the time of the breast biopsy or any time before surgery.

The EnVisio Navigation System allows breast surgeons to reach their target safely without disrupting healthy tissue.

The system provides “directions” to surgeons in three dimensions to accurately pinpoint and mark the location of cancerous tissue that needs to be removed.

“Millions of women undergo breast cancer treatment, including the pain and stress of traditional hook-wire placement procedures,” said Wilke. “The SmartClip, placed either at the time of biopsy or prior to surgery, reduces physical discomfort for patients undergoing breast cancer treatment while also offering the most precise tissue navigation needed to deliver a clear pathway from diagnosis through surgery.”

The SmartClip is incredibly small, measuring about the size of a grain of rice, and emits a differentiated electromagnetic signature to provide true, real-time stereotactic 3D coordinates.

For more information on breast cancer care at Trinity Health Of New England, visit this link.