Medical Navigation Technology: How These Developments Are Helping Doctors in Surgery

 Medicine  

In the medical industry, surgeons now have access to better imaging, and more advanced surgical tools to help them “navigate” the human body. If you have upcoming surgery, your doctor may be using this technology.

Operating rooms across the country are abuzz with advanced navigation technology, which enables surgeons to operate with greater precision and safety. By integrating the use of technology into the medical industry, surgeons now have access to better imaging, and more advanced surgical tools to help them “navigate” the human body. If you have upcoming surgery, your doctor may be using this technology to give you a most successful outcome. Here are some of the latest headliners:

SPINE SURGERY

The StealthStation Navigation System

Injury to the spinal cord during spine surgery can result in symptoms ranging from tingling to pain to paralysis. With the StealthStation® Surgical Navigation System, doctors can safely move through the body and avoid injury to the spinal cord and nerves. StealthStation works with an advanced imaging system called the O-arm® Intra-operative Imaging System, which gives a 3D view of a surgical site. This technology reduces the likelihood of repeat surgeries and often results in smaller incisions, faster recovery, and better outcomes. StealthStation acts like a GPS that enables doctors to see the exact location of their instruments during surgery. Using the imaging and navigating systems together allows surgeons to carefully monitor every phase of surgery and prevent nerve damage.

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KNEE SURGERY

The iMNS Medacta Navigation System

The iMNS Medacta Navigation System is a device used for computer-aided navigation during knee joint replacement surgery. It enables a surgeon to more accurately restore the proper alignment of the artificial knee. The iMNS Medacta Navigation System uses markers that are secured to a patient's bones. This enables a surgeon to locate bony landmarks to re-align the upper leg, knee, and ankle. The navigation system also guides the surgeon with the placement of instruments and knee hardware. The improved accuracy results in reduced blood loss, decreased postoperative pain, and fewer complications. It also shortens the duration of surgery and recovery time.

CARDIAC SURGERY

The CARTO XP EP Navigation System

Mapping the heart is a technique used to diagnose and treat an irregular heartbeat, termed a cardiac arrhythmia. An arrhythmia prevents the heart from effectively pumping blood. As a result, a person may feel faint, weak, and short of breath. To correct an arrhythmia, a surgeon performs radiofrequency ablation. In this procedure, the doctor introduces a flexible, thin tube, called a catheter, into the heart muscle. Then, radiofrequency energy, akin to microwave heat, is administered to the heart cells causing the arrhythmia. The cells die and stop conducting the impulses that triggered the arrhythmia.

According to professionals who specialize in catheter manufacturing, the CARTO XP EP Navigation System enables a surgeon to clearly see the position and orientation of the catheter within the heart. The system creates a 3D image of the cardiac chambers and provides facilitated catheter navigation to the site of arrhythmia. With a clear field of view, a surgeon can effectively target the faulty heart cells and stop the arrhythmia.

SHOULDER SURGERY

The NaviPro® Shoulder Navigation System

The NaviPro® Shoulder Navigation System provides computer-aided navigation of surgical instruments. It is used in shoulder arthroplasty, which is a procedure used to treat an arthritic shoulder. Arthroplasty can relieve arthritic symptoms in two ways: releasing restrictive tissues responsible for pain and limited movement, and replacing bony components of the shoulder joint. Successful arthroplasty depends on correct alignment of the ball and socket of the shoulder joint. Incorrect orientation can result in joint instability and injury.

NaviPro® Shoulder Navigation System involves the attachment of "optical trackers" to the ball and socket bones. The trackers link the patient to the NaviPro® computer. The navigation system measures and records the position and diameters of the bones. It also tracks the location of instruments used during surgery. Successful treatment of arthritis using NaviPro® results in decreased shoulder pain, improved shoulder movement, and facilitated function.

BENEFITS OF MEDICAL NAVIGATION TECHNOLOGY

There are numerous benefits of using medical navigation technology that both doctors and patients can now enjoy. Among its many benefits, this technology:

• -Enables surgeons to align a patient’s bones and joint implants with a degree of accuracy not possible with the naked eye.

• -Provides accurate documentation of data that is vital for a successful outcome.

• -Offers visual feedback at each stage of surgery, which enables a surgeon to alter his plan as needed.

• -Safer than fluoroscopy, which has been the conventional means of imaging during surgery. Fluoroscopy involves the use of x-rays and exposure to radiation, which can result in tissue burns and cancer.

Medical Navigation Systems are fast becoming integral components of surgeries. Your successful surgical outcome can be the result of using these advanced computer systems, and the integration of technology into the healthcare industry. As impressive as this technology is, there is definitely more to come—who knows what wonders the future of medicine will hold? The information for this article was provided by healthcare professionals who specialize in assembly of marker band catheters, and other catheter equipment.

By Dixie Somers

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