ZAP Surgical Announces First ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery Patient Treatments in Latin America

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ZAP Surgical Announces First ZAP-X Gyroscopic Radiosurgery Patient Treatments in Latin America

2025-06-19 19:15 Last Updated At：19:31

SAN CARLOS, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 19, 2025--

ZAP Surgical Systems, Inc., a global leader in non-invasive robotic brain surgery, today announced the first patient treatments using its ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Radiosurgery® platform in Latin America. Located in Neuland, Boquerón, Paraguay, Radioterapia Concordia ( www.saludconcordia.com ) has officially commenced clinical use, marking a major milestone in the decentralization of state-of-the-art brain tumor care across the region.

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In its first day of operation, four patients received next-generation stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) with ZAP-X® for a range of intracranial conditions, including meningioma, acoustic neuroma, trigeminal neuralgia, and arteriovenous malformation (AVM).

Historically, patients in the central regions of Latin America have had limited or no access to modern SRS, often requiring travel to large metropolitan hubs like Buenos Aires, São Paulo, or Santiago. Radioterapia Concordia now offers these advanced treatments locally, helping bridge a longstanding healthcare gap for rural communities.

“People in rural areas deserve to receive world-class medical care where they live, from people they understand, and at a fair price,” said Prof. Dr. Peter Douglas Klassen, Founder of Saludconcordia SA. “With ZAP-X, we are bringing the most advanced SRS capabilities to communities that have long been underserved.”

The creation of Radioterapia Concordia is further bolstered by its strategic location along the Bi-Oceanic Corridor—a transformative infrastructure project linking Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile to improve regional access and trade. The new cancer center also benefits from its collaborative relationship with ZAP-X Zentrum Lingen in Germany, home to Europe’s first ZAP-X system.

“This is more than just a technology deployment—it's a movement toward cooperative medicine,” said MBA MSc Edelgard Loewen, Case Manager at ZAP-X Zentrum Lingen. “We’re witnessing a new model emerge in Latin America—one that rises above the limitations of national and purely private healthcare systems to prioritize patients through altruistic, turnkey cancer care.”

As an alternative to open brain surgery, stereotactic radiosurgery is a non-invasive, outpatient procedure used to treat many primary and metastatic brain tumors, as well as other disorders of the head and neck. Unlike traditional surgery however, SRS does not require incisions or anesthesia, and patients often return to normal activities the same day.

The ZAP-X system is renowned for its unique gyroscopic design, which enables the delivery of radiosurgical beams from thousands of unique angles. This approach enhances the ability to concentrate radiation precisely on the tumor while minimizing dose to surrounding healthy brain tissue—an important factor in preserving cognitive function.

ZAP-X is also the first and only vault-free SRS system, removing the need for costly shielded treatment rooms. Additionally, by utilizing a modern linear accelerator, ZAP-X eliminates the use of Cobalt-60, avoiding the exorbitant costs and regulatory burdens tied to radioactive isotopes.

For more information about ZAP Surgical and the ZAP-X system, visit www.zapsurgical.com.

About ZAP Surgical Systems, Inc.

ZAP Surgical Systems, Inc. designs and manufactures the ZAP-X® Gyroscopic Radiosurgery® platform. ZAP was founded in 2014 by Dr. John R. Adler, Emeritus Dorothy & TK Chan Professor of Neurosurgery and Radiation Oncology at Stanford University. Dr. Adler is also renowned as the inventor of the CyberKnife ® system and founder of Accuray, Inc. The ZAP-X platform incorporates a unique vault-free design that typically eliminates the need for costly shielded treatment rooms. ZAP-X also utilizes a modern linear accelerator to eliminate legacy use of Cobalt-60. Learn more at ZAP Surgical and follow us on LinkedIn.

Thousands of nurses go on strike at several major New York City hospitals

NEW YORK (AP) — Thousands of nurses in three hospital systems in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend failed to yield breakthroughs in their contract disputes.

The strike was taking place at The Mount Sinai Hospital and two of its satellite campuses, with picket lines forming. The other affected hospitals are NewYork-Presbyterian and Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx.

About 15,000 nurses are involved in the strike, according to New York State Nurses Association.

“After months of bargaining, management refused to make meaningful progress on core issues that nurses have been fighting for: safe staffing for patients, healthcare benefits for nurses, and workplace violence protections,” the union said in a statement issued Monday. “Management at the richest hospitals in New York City are threatening to discontinue or radically cut nurses’ health benefits.”

The strike, which comes during a severe flu season, could potentially force the hospitals to transfer patients, cancel procedures or divert ambulances. It could also put a strain on city hospitals not involved in the contract dispute, as patients avoid the medical centers hit by the strike.

The hospitals involved have been hiring temporary nurses to try and fill the labor gap during the walkout, and said in a statement during negotiations that they would “do whatever is necessary to minimize disruptions.” Montefiore posted a message assuring patients that appointments would be kept.

“NYSNA’s leaders continue to double down on their $3.6 billion in reckless demands, including nearly 40% wage increases, and their troubling proposals like demanding that a nurse not be terminated if found to be compromised by drugs or alcohol while on the job," Montefiore spokesperson Joe Solmonese said Monday after the strike had started. "We remain resolute in our commitment to providing safe and seamless care, regardless of how long the strike may last.”

New York-Presbyterian accused the union of staging a strike to “create disruption,” but said in a statement that it has taken steps to ensure patients receive the care they need.

"We’re ready to keep negotiating a fair and reasonable contract that reflects our respect for our nurses and the critical role they play, and also recognizes the challenging realities of today’s healthcare environment,” the statement said.

The work stoppage is occurring at multiple hospitals simultaneously, but each medical center is negotiating with the union independently. Several other hospitals across the city and in its suburbs reached deals in recent days to avert a possible strike.

The nurses’ demands vary by hospital, but the major issues include staffing levels and workplace safety. The union says hospitals have given nurses unmanageable workloads.

Nurses also want better security measures in the workplace, citing incidents like a an incident last week, when a man with a sharp object barricaded himself in a Brooklyn hospital room and was then killed by police.

The union also wants limitations on hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence.

The nonprofit hospitals involved in the negotiations say they’ve been working to improve staffing levels, but say the union’s demands overall are too costly.

Nurses voted to authorize the strike last month.

Both New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani had expressed concern about the possibility of the strike. As the strike deadline neared, Mamdani urged both sides to keep negotiating and reach a deal that “both honors our nurses and keeps our hospitals open.”

“Our nurses kept this city alive through its hardest moments. Their value is not negotiable,” Mamdani said.

State Attorney General Letitia James voiced similar support, saying "nurses put their lives on the line every day to keep New Yorkers healthy. They should never be forced to choose between their own safety, their patients’ well-being, and a fair contract.”

The last major nursing strike in the city was only three years ago, in 2023. That work stoppage, at Mount Sinai and Montefiore, was short, lasting three days. It resulted in a deal raising pay 19% over three years at those hospitals.

It also led to promised staffing improvements, though the union and hospitals now disagree about how much progress has been made, or whether the hospitals are retreating from staffing guarantees.