Originally Published MPMN October 2005

INDUSTRY NEWS

New Development in Image-Guided Surgery Probes Technological Boundaries

Shana Leonard

Ascension Technology (Burlington, VT; www.ascension-tech.com) and Schaerer-Mayfield (Berlin, Germany; www.schaerer mayfield.com) have announced a new system that focuses on improvements in intrabody navigation in the image-guided surgery field. Designed as a tool for the practice of minimally invasive surgery, Schaerer-Mayfield's Mayfield Acciss II System features a miniaturized sensor supplied by Ascension that aims to improve guidance and measurement capability while inside the body.

The model uses 3-D imaging technology, a feature that presents surgeons with a precise view of the internal anatomy of a patient. This technology enables surgeons to reach their destinations quickly and accurately during a procedure. In addition to 3-D imaging, the new system is also equipped with real-time imaging capabilities. Real-time navigation of the probe through the body provides the surgeon with an up-to-date, clear view of the operation area for a safe procedure.

The system employs imaging technology and a pulsed-dc magnetic tracker affixed to a sterile probe to view the inside of a patient's body during surgical procedures. According to Ascension, these improved magnetic trackers are one-fifth as sensitive to conductive metals as their ac predecessors. The metallic distortion of measurement from ac trackers is considered to be among the most problematic issues in image-guided surgery procedures, due to the potentially serious consequences of inaccurate internal measurements. "Our new miniaturized dc magnetic sensors are a key enabling technology for minimally invasive medical procedures," says Jack Scully, vice president of new business development at Ascension. "By accurately guiding an instrument to a target inside the patient, they help reduce the number of open procedures, while limiting patient trauma and improving outcomes. Their ultimate impact will be huge."

The Acciss is awaiting FDA approval.

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