Ziehm and Medtronic present interface for image-guided 3D surgical
navigation
23 Nov 2010
Ziehm Imaging and Medtronic have teamed up to improve the use
of 3D imaging together with intraoperative navigation.
The Ziehm Vision FD Vario 3D C-arm, an X-ray imaging system for
patients on an operating table, now connects to Medtronic's
StealthStation surgical navigation system over the Ziehm NaviPort
interface to deliver distortion-free 3D images during an operation.
These images are transmitted directly to the navigation system.
The jointly developed interface, ideal for use in traumatology and
spinal surgery, expands Ziehm Imaging's portfolio, also
strengthening the company's global footprint in the US in
particular.
3D imaging is rapidly becoming the industry standard in modern
surgery. It gives the surgeon greater orientation during an
operation and, in combination with intraoperative navigation
functionality, enables high-precision, real-time monitoring.
Particularly in the case of complex, minimally invasive procedures,
high-resolution X-rays improve reliability and reduce the risk of
follow-up procedures.
Inspired by rising quality awareness in clinics and the growing
prevalence of minimally invasive surgery, Ziehm Imaging and
Medtronic teamed up to develop a new solution aimed at improving
intraoperative processes.
Ziehm NaviPort acts as an interface between Ziehm Imaging's C-arm
with flat-panel technology (Ziehm Vision FD Vario 3D) and
Medtronic's navigation system (StealthStation). This new combination
means that the patient benefits from distortion-free 3D data volumes
with over 16,000 shades of gray and shorter fluoroscopy times thanks
to navigation technology.
"StealthStation's navigation system is the perfect complement to
our C-arm, bringing a totally new dimension to the class of support
we can offer surgeons in the OR," says Martin Herzmann, Director
Marketing at Ziehm Imaging.
"It has never been as easy to combine navigation functionality
with our C-arm. Data is registered automatically and transferred
directly to the navigation software. Medtronic has taken the
ergonomics of navigation and intraoperative 3D imaging to a new
level — to the benefit of both patients and surgeons."
By interfacing the navigation system with Ziehm NaviPort, the new
solution visualizes surgical instruments, which — in combination
with high-precision 3D images — actively support the surgeon's
decision-making process and track progress during the actual
procedure.
The data is transferred automatically from the C-arm through
Ziehm NaviPort to the StealthStation navigation system. This gives
the surgeon a real-time navigation guide, eliminating the need to
re-register the 3D data record. As a result, the surgeon can quickly
and reliably check and document the results of the intervention. The
combined C-arm and navigation platform is particularly suited to
clinical applications in orthopedic, trauma and neurosurgical
surgery.
"This joint development project with Ziehm Imaging allows us to
clearly address the growing market for intraoperative 3D imaging,"
explains Harald Joedicke, Product Manager Europe at Medtronic.
"Surgeons, OR staff and patients all benefit from the added
reliability and improved operating results enabled by our new joint
solution."