Digital Lightbox replaces the conventional light box used to observe analog x-ray images. Connected to the hospital PACS, the new digital platform can be installed both in meeting rooms and in operating rooms, where clinicians can then access, manipulate, and utilize data for surgery planning. By displaying the human body in 3D, Digital Lightbox helps clinicians to more clearly demonstrate to patients what effects a disease can have and which procedures may be necessary.

Digital Lightbox enables clinicians to select the most valuable images from large amounts of existing medical data. Ergonomic touchscreen technology with zoom functionality makes working with data easy and effective.

Clinicians can intuitively navigate within pictures and between settings. Image scrolling can be performed with one finger; zooming in and out of images with two. Images from different sources can also be fused easily. A measure functionality enables clinicians to set size and other dimensions.

By integrating the communication platform iPlan® Net from BrainLAB, clinicians can perform treatment planning with Digital Lightbox or any PC connected to the hospital network. This eliminates bottlenecks, as busy planning stations are rendered obsolete. iPlan Net helps to simplify the clinical workflow and save costs, as well as strengthen and simplify interdisciplinary collaboration between neurosurgery, nuclear medicine and radiology departments.

Digital Lightbox can be installed in any hospital environment and is compatible with all established image formats, such as DICOM, jpg, bmp, tif, png, avi, wmv. Planning data can be transferred directly from Digital Lightbox to surgical navigation systems designed for precise and minimally invasive procedures.

Video demonstrating the Digital Lightbox:

Press release: World Premiere at University Hospital in Munich: Digital Lightbox...

Product page: Digital Lightbox

The following product features are listed in St. Jude's press release:

The EonC neurostimulator provides a convenient option for chronic pain patients who prefer or require the simplicity of a non-rechargeable medical device. Featuring the greatest battery capacity of any primary cell neurostimulator, the EonC may maximize the time between device replacement procedures...

Proprietary technology (called NeuroDynamix(TM)) which helps deliver stimulation with greater efficiency

Advanced programming capability which allows patients to adjust therapy strength in up to eight pain areas simultaneously and independently

Constant current circuitry which automatically adjusts power output to deliver consistent therapy over time

High power and high pulse frequencies which enable clinicians to adjust the therapy to accommodate individual patient needs

EonC is the only 16-contact, constant current, non-rechargeable system for SCS therapy

Press release: St. Jude Medical Receives U.S. and European Approvals of EonC, the First Extended-Life Primary Cell Neurostimulator for the Treatment of Chronic Pain

Product page: Primary Cell IPG Systems

From the product page:

The Physio-L™ Artificial Lumbar Disc is a weight bearing artificial intervertebral lumbar disc implant indicated for use between L3 and S1 in skeletally mature patients with degenerative disc disease (DDD). The device closely matches the physiologic properties of the intact human intervertebral disc and is comprised of a superior and inferior titanium endplate and a central elastomeric core.

Single durometer poly-carbonate polyurethane core material selected for its static mechanical properties and biodurability

Elastomeric Core Geometry
1) Core deseign allows for physiologically unconstrained center of rotation and enhanced fatigue resistance.
2) Designed to restore normal range of motion n flexion/extension, lateral bending and torison.

Dome Design
1) Titanium porous coated endplate dome for ingrowth.
2) 3mm high dome shape optimized to fit anatomic shape of the endplates.
3) Central keel to assist in achieving initial implant stability.

Press release: Nexgen Spine Receives CE Mark Approval for the Physio-L(R) Artificial Disc

Product page: Physio-L Artificial Lumbar Disc

Video...

The iDuo is a bicompartmental resurfacing implant designed for patients whose arthritic damage is limited to either the medial or lateral compartment of the knee, in addition to the patellofemoral compartment. Approximately 30% to 50% of patients who receive a total knee replacement today exhibit symptoms of osteoarthritis in just one or two of the three compartments of the knee.

The iDuo resurfaces only the affected areas, preserving far more bone on both the femur and tibia than traditional knee replacement surgery. The iDuo also preserves both the anterior and posterior cruciate ligaments, helping to maintain natural knee kinematics. The extent of tissue preservation with the iDuo helps patients retain their future surgical options.

Each iDuo is designed from an individual patient’s CT scan using the company’s proprietary iFit™ technology and made specifically for that patient. Because it is patient-specific, the iDuo allows for individualized fit, including full coverage of the tibial cortical rim, and a simplified surgical technique.

The iDuo comes packaged together with patient-specific instrumentation called iJigs™, which are designed from the same scans as the implant, including data on the patient’s biomechanical axis. The iJig cutting and placement guides eliminate manual sizing during surgery and provide tactile guidance to precisely place the instruments, simplifying the surgical technique. One tray of disposable iJigs replace multiple trays of traditional instrumentation that would typically have cost a hospital several hundred dollars per surgery in instrument handling, storage, sterilization and lost operating room time.

Press release: ConforMIS, Inc. Launches First Patient-Specific, Bicompartmental Knee Resurfacing System on the Market

Product page: iDuo™ Bicompartmental Knee Resurfacing Device...

Here's what AGT says about its product, promoted as "cartilage repair gel":

Our hydrogel is made up almost entirely of water, yet can thicken to produce a substance 100-1000 times stronger than any other gel of its kind.

This is because it is composed of two very long elastic-like molecules that form strong covalent bonds with each other to form a 3D network, like a cage, that holds the water. By adjusting the number of bonds, the physico-chemical properties of the gel can be manipulated to make it thick, thin or sticky. The gel also has the capability to hold molecules of other substances, whether water soluble or water insoluble (e.g. oil).

Much of the company’s development has been undertaken using polyvinyl alcohol (PVOH) as the co-polymer. Our innovation, derived from research undertaken by our scientists at the University of Bradford, is a unique cross-linker, "PD2000", that is capable of bonding with a range of co­polymers to form materials with a unique combination of useful properties.

A summary of the features of this technology includes:

Physical and Chemical Properties Able to form a wide range of hydrogels with different physico-chemical properties

Able to vary the physical form ranging from liquid to a solid

Solid can be formed with very high water content (90%+)

Cross-linking reaction can complete unaffected by the presence of other substances

Very high mechanical strength maintained even with high (90%+) water content

Can be extruded into films

Temperature and radiation resistant

Cross-linking reaction is reversible when desired

Release and Absorption Properties

Can be used for sustained release of incorporated substances by virtue of zero order kinetics

Can be used to generate microemulsions – with the added capability of being able to ‘burst’ and release

Hygrostatic – maintains level of hydration

Toxicity and Cell Biology

Non-toxic and meets current safety regulations

Intrinsically bacterostatic

Can be used as a medium for tissue growth

Product page: AGT Sciences hydrogel...

University of Bradford press release: Cartilage repair gel will improve quality of life...

According to Israel 21c, the device received the European CE Mark in September 2006. The company hopes to gain FDA clearance in the US soon.

To learn more: Active Implants...

Abstract at European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology: TriboFit Total Hip System for the Treatment of Femoral Neck Fractures in the Elderly: Preliminary results (.pdf)

According to Virtalis,

The Haption range encompasses a small, desktop device with a translational workspace within a sphere of diameter of 120 mm and rotational workspace of 35O in three directions. Top of the range is the Virtuose 6D35-45, which was designed for the 1:1 scale manipulation of virtual objects and has a massive transational workspace up to a sphere of diameter of 450 mm and can exert forces up to 35 N. All Haption products can be easily integrated into Virtalis StereoWorks installations, so that the Haption device is linked to 3D stereo projection in a fully tracked virtual environment.

Aside from engineering applications, Haption is finding new customers in the kinehaptic field where patients overcome their injuries by practicing their fine motor skills. Surgeons who need to stay within a tightly controlled operating envelope represent another important market for haptics. So do nuclear engineers, whose complex operations when dealing with several robots carrying out specialized dismantling and decommissioning work, have found themselves benefiting greatly from virtual force feedback. In hazardous environments, being able to create the physics of an object, practice manipulating it, optimize the movement path and then record that path, has proved to be invaluable.

If you want to check out the brochure for the Virtuose 6D35-45 device, here it is (.pdf)...

Haption company page...

The video below shows off the technology and demonstrates various cuts using the PlasmaBlade compared to scalpels and bovies.

Peak Surgical homepage...

Press release: PEAK Surgical Receives 510(k) Clearance to Market PEAK® Surgery System for Use in General Surgery...

Flashback: Peak PlasmaBlade Wants to Be The New Bovie

From the product page:

The SlimFuse is a next generation cervical plate, requiring only one screw per vertebra and allows the surgeon the flexibility to choose between a rigid, semi-rigid, or translationally dynamic system without additional instrumentation.

Compared to traditional systems, SlimFuse's narrow plate width and scalloped cutouts provides improved interoperative visualization and accomodates more lateral placement away from the esophagus. In addition, the system offers the following features and benefits:

* Rotationally dynamic and translationally dynamic options can be configured interoperatively.
* Pivot Bases provide Static or Dynamic Plate function while resisting torsional forces.
* Self-tapping and Self-drilling Screws offer surgical versatility.

Press release: Pioneer® Surgical Technology, Inc. Announces the Market Launch of the SlimFuse™ Anterior Cervical Plate System (.pdf)...

Product page: SlimFuse™...

Some of the features from the CombiCarrier product page:

Approved as a full backboard and orthopedic stretcher

Patient can be rotated and slid out onto the CombiCarrier during auto extrication situations. Works like a traditional backboard.

Separates in Half for Application

Can be separated at either end. Eliminates unnecessary movement making it ideal for patients with suspected hip and pelvic injuries.

Continuous Head Support Surface

Improves neutral alignment and minimizes head movement during application and removal. Accommodates most durable and disposable head immobilizers, i.e., #445, HeadHugger™ and HeadBed II™.

Auto-Lock Latch System

Recessed side latch is positioned away from patient. Locks instantly during application, manual release required during removal from patient.

Seamless Plastic Construction

No rivets, drive screws or roll pins. High density polyethylene is easily cleaned and disinfected. Helps comply with OSHA regulations. Foam filling makes it ideal for water rescue situations.

X-ray Compatible

Clear center section provides unobstructed A/P view of patient's spine. Split-design allows for simple, easy removal and reapplication for detailed X-ray examination if necessary.

Product page: CombiCarrier...

More from Morphix Design...

2008 IDEA award details for CombiCarrier II...