VUZE System
Adding the Online Images that Surgeons Need Most and Currently Lack: Vertebral Cross-Sections
Concept
Robustness
Robustness of the VUZE System is assessed when registration of the intra-operative X-Rays with the pre-surgery CT scan is challenging. For example, when newly-placed implants are present in the X-Ray images, or when the X-Ray images are generated with low-dose radiation.
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Before Surgery
Objective
Surgeon Sees This Today
In Surgery
Safe tool insertions into a vertebra, the best view is a cross-section
Standard 3D CT scan, incl. cross-sections, for diagnosis and planning
Tool insertion into a vertebra
Tool in 2D X-Ray image
(no cross-sections)
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Surgeon Sees with VUZE
Tool and trajectory are detected in X-Ray image and placed on a matching CT cross-section
System
Dynamic Online Image Registration (DOLIR)™ is implemented by VUZE in software. The only hardware added in the OR is an on-cart, off-the-shelf PC and a touchscreen. The simplicity and affordability of common X-Ray guidance are both maintained. As for tool neutrality/specificity, with VUZE it may be configured by software.
Immediate focus is on spinal stabilization by implants or cement injections, with three million applicable surgeries annually. Other spinal and skeletal interventions are expected to follow.
Workflow
VUZE displays critical cross-sectional views that are currently unavailable during X-Ray guided surgery. It overlays instantly the positions and trajectories of surgical tools seen in standard intra-operative 2D X-Ray images onto cross-sections generated from a standard pre-operative CT scan. Further facilitating this workflow, only top-view (a.k.a. AP) X-Rays are required.
Precision
Precision of the VUZE™ System is evaluated by viewing, side by side, the cross-sectional images displayed by VUZE during tool insertion and the images generated afterwards by a new post-insertion 3D scan. For each pedicle along the thoracolumbar spine, two pairs of corresponding cross-sections (axial and sagittal) are displayed.