Medgadget

TRUMF's OR Table Integrated With Siemens Multi-axis Fluoroscopy Systems

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:54:17 -0800

Siemens has just announced that it has integrated the TruSystem 7500 OR table from TRUMPF (Puchheim, Germany) with its Artis zee and Artis zeego fluoroscopy scanners. The TruSystem 7500 adjusts to just about any position imaginable and is transparent to x-rays, and so can be used in almost any surgical or invasive radiological procedure. TruSystem 7500 OR table is illustrated above, and Artis zeego multi-axis interventional fluoroscope is shown in the picture below.

The Trumpf OR table has been designed especially for this integration and is equipped with a onepiece carbon tabletop, which can be replaced by a segmented universal tabletop. The table column enables the two tops to be exchanged easily. The carbon tabletop is transparent to X-rays and thus ensures that there will be no disruptive artifacts in the images. It is suitable for interventional procedures and minimally invasive surgery. The integration of the OR table with the Siemens angiography systems also make fast rotations and 3-D imaging possible with the surgical C-arm. The modular design of the segmented tabletop enables extremely flexible positioning of the patient, particularly important in orthopedics and neuro surgery. Complicated positions, such as the chest side position, can be achieved quickly with great precision as well as comfort for the patient and staff.

Along with the integrated Trumpf OR table, Siemens continues to offer its Artis tables for the entire Artis zee series, which are available in three designs: as a standard table, a table with Trendelenburg tilting and one with Trendelenburg and lateral tilting.

Press release: Siemens integrates Trumpf's OR table in its Artis zeego and Artis zee ceiling angiography systems...

Product pages: TruSystem 7500, Artis zee, Artis zeego

Veritas Collagen Matrix Gets EU Green Light

Mon, 26 Oct 2009 00:18:36 -0800

Synovis Life Technologies out of St. Paul, Minnesota has received European approval to market its Veritas Collagen Matrix for hernia repair and breast reconstruction procedures. The bovine pericardium derived material is strong, doesn't need refrigeration, and doesn't stink like some other competing products.

Features from the product page:

Multi-directional collagen fibers

Acellular collagen matrix

Terminally sterilized

Packaged hydrated, ready-to-use, in an inner sterile pouch and an outer non-sterile pouch

Offered in a variety of sizes

Easy to cut and sew

Pre-op steps of rehydration, rinsing and stretching not required

Tissue bank tracking not required as compared to allografts

Compatible with a variety of fixation techniques: suture, staple, tack or other methods

Here's the product being used during breast reconstruction surgery:

Press release: Synovis Life Technologies Receives CE Mark Approval for the Use of Veritas(R) Collagen Matrix in Hernia Repair and Breast Reconstruction...

Product page: Veritas Collagen Matrix...

Flashback: Veritas Collagen Matrix for Prevention of Surgical Adhesions

Lap-Pak, a Student Designed Abdominal Retractor, On Road to Market Realization

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 01:44:53 -0800

A device developed by clinicians and students at Johns Hopkins University to move bowels out of the way in laparotomies has been licensed to Seguro Surgical, a Columbia, Maryland company. The Lap-Pak is see-through and flexible, giving you ability to quickly displace the guts without all the towels and sponges and external retractors.

The primary goal for Lap-Pak is to reduce bowel packing time by 50%. Use of Lap-pak during laparotomies ensures interoperability with retractors, facilitates monitoring of bowels, and maintains tissue temperature and hydration.

The Lap-Pak device is a one-piece device constructed from a soft and flexible material that is easy to position. It contains a stable body support that evenly distributes pressure. Side and bottom flaps contour against the abdominal walls to prevent movement and allow for varied cavity sizes. The dual top flaps shield the bowels while maintaining visibility of the intestines as well as internal temperature and moisture. The product will be offered in three sizes designed to fit over 80% of adults.

Press release: Seguro Acquires Worldwide Rights to Johns Hopkins Abdominal Surgery Device...

Product page: Lap-pak...

Ultra High Resolution Video Used In Laparoscopic Surgery

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:33:56 -0800

Our good friend Dr. Steven Palter has just performed the world's first ultra high definition laparoscopic surgery using the Red One 4K camera. The imagery, at four times the resolution of standard high definition video, was later displayed in all its glory in 3D to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine on a Sony SRXR-220 projector. Using equipment worth over a million dollars, this is truly the clearest view inside the body ever recorded.

As detail and resolution increases surgeons will see and perform better. For this reason I set out to see if images 4 times the resolution ofHD could be obtained through our surgical scopes and if the next generation of Hollywood 4k cameras could be used for surgery. In a pilot project we successfully connected the camera of the future to our surgical scope and obtained the highest resolution surgical images of body ever directly in the procedure.

By increasing resolution to this level we allow the surgeon to be actually immersed in images that surpass the live surgical experience. The resolution approaches that of the human eye but it is combined with 10 fold magnification through the telescopes which operate just inches away from the disease. The progress from regular surgical film technology is like comparing sitting in an HD home theater to watching a video on a cell phone.

Amazingly, the surgeons in the conference were able to visualize the surgery they were watching better than if they had been in the operating room live. If it can transform the immersive experience of the movies with unprecedented realism wouldn't you want that degree of vision in your surgeon's hands? By combining unprecedented resolution and magnification the surgical images were beyond what a surgeon would have standing live in the operating room. Those in the audience predicted this technology would further revolutionize minimally invasive surgery as it becomes incorporated into the OR of the future.

Link: World's First "4k" Laparoscopy Performed- Surgery in 4X HD!

ThumBlade Scalpel Safety System

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:34:10 -0800

Here's an interesting new take on improving the safety for scrub techs, nurses and surgeons. ThumBlade™ scalpel system from Precision Medical Devices Inc. (Marlboro, NJ) is a no contact, disposable safety sheath that covers blades, and allows activation of the scalpel with just one hand. So no more sharps and no more mosquito use to mount a blade.

Medgadget has obtained the following details about the device:

Featuring patent pending innovative thumb activation independent mechanisms, PMD’s ThumBlade™ safety scalpels enable one-handed activation smoothly and safely by right or left handed practitioners with no contact with the exposed blade. This activation affords an easy, natural opening motion while keeping the other fingers out of the way. The safety sheath is made from high quality ABS composite with a completely flat and smooth top, providing a stable platform for better control during the procedure. The extra sharp blades are stainless steel, pre-sterilized, and disposable after single use. The blade sheaths and packaging are color coded by size for easy counting and safe use. The stainless steel handles are pre-sterilized for first use and can be re-sterilized and re-used. These handles, available in both #3 and #4 fitments, are premium length and back-weighted for the grip and feel practitioners prefer.

Product page: ThumBlade™ safety scalpel system...

GE's New Ultra Small Ultrasound May Become as Ubiquitous as Stethoscope

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:50:51 -0800

Yesterday at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco, GE showed off their new handheld ultrasound device. The Vscan looks like a cross between an iPod and a cell phone, making it possibly the world's smallest ultrasound. Later today we'll be attending GE's healthymagination technology showcase in New York where further details and specs will hopefully become available.

For critical care clinicians, Vscan can offer an immediate look beyond patient vital signs with the potential to identify critical issues, like fluid around the heart, which could be a sign of congestive heart failure. And for cardiologists, Vscan provides a dependable visual evaluation of how well the heart is pumping at a glance, so they can treat patients more efficiently.

Single Chip Stereo Endoscopy from Visionsense Coming to an OR Near You

Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:23:31 -0800

Visionsense out of Orangeburg, New York, a company that makes single chip 3D endoscopic vision technology, has raised $8M in VC funds to begin full scale marketing of its unique technology in the US and Europe. The firm's Visionsense Stereoscopic Vision System, designed to improve depth perception and understanding of complex surgical anatomy, can be used for a variety of complex surgeries, such as skull-base and keyhole neurosurgical cases, as well as a wide range of laparoscopic procedures.

Camera Control Unit (CCU) – The CCU consists of a single Pentium PC with proprietary Visionsense hardware and software.

3D Stereoscopic Display - The CCU connects to a stereoscopic display with flexible arm for multiple viewing angles (requires glasses).

Video Cart - specifically designed to maximize surgeon ergonomics and minimize the footprint in the operating room.

The VSII is designed to work with:

Cameras - The VSII uses various configurations of cameras specifically designed for transnasal and keyhole neurosurgical applications. Currently, there are 2 lengths (170mm and 300mm) and 2 angles (0 and 30 degree). The cameras are able to be sterilized and are reusable for 40 procedures.

LED Light Source - The VSII uses its own customized light source which uses a few watts of power to illuminate the surgical field.

Digital Recording/playing/editing procedures, in both mono and stereo

Product page: VSII -Visionsense Stereoscopic Vision System

Flashback: Single Chip Stereo Endoscopy from Visionsense

(hat tip: Globes)

Siemens Adds Tomosynthesis to Its Top Line Mammography System

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:59:18 -0800

The Mammomat Inspiration mammography system from Siemens now features the company's 3D tomosynthesis imaging that delivers high quality volumetric views of the breast. With the help of this digital reconstruction technology, clinicians should now avoid false positives by evaluating a suspected tumor from different angles.

So far, conventional analog mammography and digital full-field mammography was only able to display the three-dimensional anatomical structure of the breast on a two-dimensional level. This made diagnosis more difficult and limited the possibility of the physician identifying certain types of tumor; since, anatomical structures could overlap and obscure lesions. The 3D tomosynthesis technology in the Mammomat Inspiration overcomes these limitations: The technology acquires several projections of the breast from different angles using a fast detector based on amorphous Selenium (aSe) and uses this raw data to generate a 3D volume set. This enables a better analysis of the type and size of lesions as well as microcalcifications compared to conventional methods. Tomosynthesis increases the sensitivity and specificity of mammography, as well as improving tumor differentiation and classification.

Tomosynthesis differs from conventional mammography in the same way that, for example, a CT scan differs from a classical X-ray image. During the examination, the X-ray tube moves in a 50-degree arc around the breast, taking 25 low-dose images. The images are then used as raw data to construct high-resolution 3D images. High spatial resolution and a wide acquisition angle result in the production of mammography images with unparalleled image quality.

Press release: Siemens releases first mammography systems equipped with 3D tomosynthesis

NiTi's BioDynamix Anastomosis Technology Brings It All Together

Wed, 14 Oct 2009 12:57:23 -0800

NiTi Surgical Solutions, a startup with headquarters in Israel and the U.S, is developing an innovative new way to bring an ease and reliability to intestinal anastomoses. The company has just introduced a new device (see side image), dubbed BowelRing™, at the ongoing American College of Surgeons (ACS) 95^th Annual Clinical Congress in Chicago. The company is apparently named for its reliance on nitinol shape memory alloys. NiTi's first product was the ColonRing™ endoluminal device, pictured below, designed for the creation of end-to-end and end-to-side anastomoses in both open and laparoscopic surgeries, and it has already been approved by the FDA as well as by European regulators. Interestingly, ColonRing's endoluminal nitinol ring is "naturally" expelled (read: you poop it out) from the body after the circular anastomosis has been achieved.

Here's how the company describes its technology:

NiTi’s unique line of products utilizes Nitinol-based elements to press together the ends of resected tissue, enabling natural reconnection and healing after removing a section as part of a surgery. The company’s first marketed product launched earlier this year, ColonRing™, provides physicians with a revolutionary reconnection technology for surgeries such as colon cancer surgery, and represents the first of several Nitinol devices NiTi expects to bring to market as part of its innovative platform. The BowelRing with BioDynamix Anastomosis Technology is currently being evaluated for side-to-side anastomosis, most often utilized in small bowel and right colon procedures.
NiTi’s products are based on patented Nitinol (Nickel Titanium), a shape memory metal alloy that can be stretched far beyond the limits of other materials such as steel, yet completely returns to the original shape and mechanical properties. In practice as a BioDynamix™ Anastomosis device, the exclusive Nitinol springs stretch to bring the ring or the clip to an open state. After the ring or the clip is set during colorectal surgery, the process of returning to their original closed position, controlled by the Nitinol springs, begins. The tissue trapped within the ring or the clip is cut off from its blood supply and becomes necrotic. The two pieces of tissue along the outside of the ring or the clip are held in close proximity to allow a naturally prescribed healing process.

The first phase of wound healing – the lag or inflammatory phase – includes the critical task of phagocytosis or “cleaning” the damaged tissue of bacteria and other foreign cell matter. The lag phase is shorter with the NiTi BioDynamix™ Anastomosis technology than with stapling because the extent of tissue trauma is minimal. With NiTi BioDynamix™ Anastomosis, NiTi's unique and successful implementation of compression anastomosis based on the unique properties of the shape memory alloy Nitinol, healing takes place by fibrous adhesion, without suppuration and formation of granulation tissue. This process is called “healing by first intention.” For patients going through colorectal surgery, it results in re-epithelialization and the full adaptation of the wall layers of anastomosed tissue or, in other words, the full recovery of the natural multi-layer tissue structure.

The ring or the clip releases only after the tissue has moved through the phases of healing and gained its full strength.

Here's a video that demonstrates the use of the ColonRing™ (CAR™ 27) BioDynamix7trade; Anastomosis device in colorectal surgery:

To learn more, dive into the BioDynamix technology page...

White papers: Advancing BioDynamix Anastomosis Technology ; Institutional Guide to BioDynamix Anastomosis

Company website: NiTi Surgical Solutions...

Mass Spectrometer Smells Out Tumor Cells During Surgery

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:01:07 -0800

Surgically removing tumors usually involves a bit of guessing on where cancerous tissue ends and healthy begins. The surgeons also have to keep the tumor margin as wide as possible to make sure that the entire specimen has been removed. Current methods to help make the guessing game more precise involves preoperative scans and sending surgical tissue samples for path analysis. Researchers from Justus-Liebig University in Giessen, Germany have now recognized that when surgeons are using electric cautery, the smoke that's released contains information about what is being cut. By using a mass spectrometer attached to the smoke collecting vacuum, the scientists are hoping to develop a technology that will provide almost real time, clinically useful information about the tissue under the knife.

Technology Review reports:

The new system not only provides real-time information, but also produces an image of the tumor, using chemical information, which could also help guide postoperative care. The imager could, for example, reveal a particularly aggressive form of cancer, and this information could guide oncologists in prescribing the right drug.
So far, the German researchers have tested the surgical mass-spectrometry system in several animals, including rodents, with cancer. The group is also working with veterinarians to use the scalpel during tumor-removal surgeries in dogs with naturally occurring tumors. Next month the device will go into human clinical trials, and Takáts is working with Meyer-Haake, a German electrosurgical device company, to develop the machinery.