 Welcome to the Dr. Robert H. and Mary Ellen Harris ZAPEX Center for Non-Invasive Neurosurgery at the Hackensack Meridian Neuroscience Institute at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, the first center in the world to combine ZAPEX gyroscopic radiosurgery with synaptive brain-only silent MRI. This has been made possible due to the extraordinary generosity of Mrs. Mary Ellen Harris and the Golden Dome Foundation. ZAPEX is an advanced form of radiation therapy that can deliver stereotactic radiosurgery to provide precise, painless, and non-invasive outpatient treatment for patients with brain tumors, facial pain, and arteriovenous malformations. Here's what patients can expect during treatment. During the consultation, the team explains how the treatment process works and determines if the patient is a good candidate for the procedure. This can ask questions and will be advised on how to best prepare for the procedure. Next, the clinical team makes a thermoplastic mask that will be used during the patient's treatment. The mask is used to help hold the patient in a comfortable and consistent position during both the patient imaging and treatment delivery. This is made in the CT simulator room and is made of a flexible material which is warmed to custom mold to the patient's head. The mask then cools and becomes rigid for use during the course of treatment. This process is painless and typically lasts about 15 to 20 minutes. Once the mask is created, the CT simulation is performed. A highly specialized CT imaging machine is utilized to visualize the size, shape, and location of the tumor or targeted area of the brain. The patient must lie still during the simulation which takes approximately 15 to 20 minutes. The next step is the Synaptive Brain Only MRI Simulation. The combination of the CT simulator and the MRI simulator procedures allow for the most precise imaging and mapping of the target treatment area. During the Synaptive MRI, the patient is placed in the machine where only their head will be enclosed. This allows the MRI to capture more precise images and prevents the patient from being fully enclosed. Quieter than a traditional MRI machine and is faster than traditional MRI imaging. This process usually takes between 15 to 20 minutes and is typically performed the same day as the CT simulation. At this stage, pre-treatment imaging is complete and the clinical team can develop a customized treatment plan. The team reviews all imaging, identifying precise target locations and nearby critical organs or radio sensitive areas to avoid. This information is necessary for the most targeted treatment possible, limiting exposure to healthy tissue. The patient is then scheduled for their ZAPEX treatment. The ZAPEX treatment is performed in one to five sessions depending on the patient's treatment plan. On the day of treatment, the patient lies on the treatment table and is secured in place using the fitted thermoplastic mask. Then, relying on the defined treatment plan, ZAPEX aligns the patient, the gyroscopic robot is positioned and treatment begins. The patient feels nothing during the treatment and is able to communicate with the team during the procedure. ZAPEX delivers high doses of radiation to tumor tissue with one millimeter precision. Hundreds of uniquely angled radiation beams are directed at the tumor with very little radiation affecting nearby healthy tissue. As a result, patients have a lower risk of experiencing side effects. The procedure usually takes about 20 minutes, but can vary based on the patient's unique needs. In the week's following treatment, the clinical team will remain in contact with the patient and assess how they're responding to the treatment. The patient will have their first follow-up appointment, approximately four weeks post-treatment. The patient will then undergo additional imaging three months later to assess progress after treatment. The time it takes for patients to observe initial results can vary depending on the diagnosis, ranging from a few weeks to up to a year. To learn more about ZAPEX and Synaptive MRI, scan the QR code or call 732-897-8000.