Abstract
Accuray Incorporated designs, develops and sells the CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery System, an image-guided radiosurgical instrument used to ablate diverse benign and malignant lesions. In 2001, Accuray received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to market the CyberKnife for radiosurgical treatment of lesions anywhere in the body where radiation is indicated. From its inception in 1994 until 2009, the CyberKnife has been used at more than 180 installations worldwide to treat more than 80,000 patients. This is the story of how a neurosurgeon conceptualized, developed, and implemented the CyberKnife idea, and the lessons I learned from founding and eventually managing a biomedical device company. Most people who hear this story are surprised to learn that so much of Accuray, Inc's formation was uncalculated. This should not really be surprising, given the typical young aspiring academic I was when this journey began.
Highlights
BackgroundAccuray Incorporated designs, develops and sells the CyberKnife® Stereotactic Radiosurgery System, an image-guided radiosurgical instrument used to ablate diverse benign and malignant lesions
From its inception in 1994 until 2009, the CyberKnife has been used at more than 180 installations worldwide to treat more than 80,000 patients
This is the story of how a neurosurgeon conceptualized, developed, and implemented the CyberKnife idea, and the lessons I learned from founding and eventually managing a biomedical device company
Summary
Accuray Incorporated designs, develops and sells the CyberKnife® Stereotactic Radiosurgery System, an image-guided radiosurgical instrument used to ablate diverse benign and malignant lesions. By virtue of their professional backgrounds and often times not-inconsequential incomes, neurosurgeons may both readily understand the clinical value of my proposed technology, and have the means to make a meaningful investment With this objective in mind, a management team that somewhat haphazardly coalesced around this project and I set out to fund Accuray through a limited partnership. When I took over as CEO of Accuray in September 1999, the company had little cash remaining from the most recent round of financing, there were no serious prospects for new U.S sales, and the credibility of our flagship U.S CyberKnife was undermined by my decision to become more fully involved with Accuray It necessitated heroic efforts from my neurosurgical colleagues, and me, often trying to be in two places at one time, to keep Stanford's clinical program creeping forward. No business can ever have complete confidence in what the future might bring, but it appears that my 18-year-old vision for the future of non-invasive surgery, is in good corporate hands and the best is yet to come
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