Accuray, Inc.: A Neurosurgical Business Case Study

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.