Technological Advances

The Neuroview family of fiber-optic flexible endoscopes are now FDA cleared for spinal applications. Designed for minimally invasive spine surgery, these products are available in diameters of 1.5, 2.3 and 4.6 millimeters. Respectively they have 0.5, 1.0 and 2.4 millimeter channels for irrigation and instrument passage. These endoscopes have a flexible body, and a tip deflection mechanism enabling 90 degree of excursion. They can be used with the Neuroview Integrated Visualization Systems or they can be adapted to any endoscopic video system in the hospital. For more information about this and other products, please contact Neuro Navigational at 800/638-7654.

AESCULAP and ISG Develop Advanced Image-Guided Surgical System

ISG Technologies, Inc. (ISG) is working with AESCULAP AG of Tuttlingen, Germany, to develop an advanced image-guided surgical system based on core technology built by ISG. The system will incorporate specialized instrumentation developed by AESCULAP, and will be marketed and supported by AESCULAP around the world.

Image-guided surgical systems consist of an imaging workstation, on which a patient’s CT or MR images have been loaded, which is linked to a localized pointer that is tracked in space such that the position and orientation of the pointer tip is always known.

The images are currently correlated to the patient on the operating table, and the system is ready for use. The surgeon touches the pointer to the location of interest on the patient; the workstation instantaneously displays the corresponding images on the screen with a cross-hair to indicate the pointed tip’s position, and then continually updates the display as the probe is moved. The surgeon is presented with CT or MR information along three planes at the indicated position, revealing the location of surrounding hidden structures which might be critical to the surgery.

ISG’s system incorporates several important distinctive features:

• An interactive trajectory view, presenting image information along the probe, revealing the hidden structures along the intended approach. The images are updated as the orientation of the probe is changed so the surgeon can interactively evaluate different approaches

• The ability to interface with a wide range of scanners

For further information about this product please contact:

New Medical Imaging Technology

A new technological development allows physicians to measure the naturally occurring magnetic fields of body organs and thereby allow them to discover whether or not the organ is healthy.

The device, developed by Biomagnetic Technologies, Inc., of San Diego, is known as Magnetic Source Imaging (MSI). MSI technology uses an ultra-sensitive antenna to detect the faint magnetic fields naturally produced by body organs. From these magnetic fields, physicians can deduce information about the location and condition of neural activity within those organs, helping them to diagnose and analyze a variety of disorders, including brain tumors, epilepsy and Parkinson’s Disease. Previously, such readings could only be taken through the use of surgically implanted electrodes, a lengthy, awkward and expensive process.

For example, through the use of MSI, physicians may be able to locate injured or dysfunctional brain tissue without surgery. This means the patient will only have to undergo surgery when the offending tissue is actually removed.

For further information on this product, please contact James V. Schumacher or Bruce S. Aboudara of Biomagnetic Technologies at 619/453-6300.