|
Neurosurgery is one of the most specialized fields in medicine, which deals with the sensitive areas of the brain and spinal cord. Due to the risks typically involved with this type of surgery, surgeons look for new technologies to help them in meet this challenge. The field has already benefited from many advances such as microsurgery and visualization solutions like computer assisted imaging computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Their ability to make decisions and surgery performance is directly impacted by the amount and quality of information available before and during the surgical procedure.
Current state-of-the-art approaches
The Operating Room Microscope – With this visualization technique, surgeons create an opening in the skull to access the required area. Using a powerful microscope, which provides high-quality, magnified stereoscopic, images, they perform the procedure. However, the OR microscope requires a big opening and a straight visual pathway. It cannot see around the corner, which limits the access to the pathology. In addition, the OR microscope is a large device making it very cumbersome to operate in crowded surroundings.
The endoscope – By using an endoscope, an instrument used to examine the interior of a hollow organ or cavity of the body, surgeons can minimize the required opening to 4mm or use existing orifices such as the nasal canal as access routes. The 2 main drawbacks of the current technology are the requirement for straight line access and lack of full depth perception due to 2D images.
The Visionsense Solution – “Miniature Microscope”
Visionsense has created a technology that combines the best of both worlds. The company’s novel visualization solution provides stereoscopic (3D) images, like natural sight, in a miniature package. With Visionsense, surgeons can plan the easiest access path and get a complete picture through a small opening. |