India Medtronic Pvt. Ltd., a wholly owned subsidiary of Medtronic, Inc. recently showcased its novel and advanced 3D surgical imaging device- the O-Arm Intra-operative System at the 26th Annual Conference of Association of Spine Surgeons (ASSICON) 2013 at Le Meridian Convention Centre, Kochi, Kerala.

The O-Arm Imaging System brings intra-operative imaging (a vital tool for the surgical team) to a new level providing intra-operative 3D imaging with minimal radiation and maximum accuracy to surgeons. It lowers the chance of revision surgeries and improves outcomes for patients with chronic and debilitating spine problems.

With this surgical imaging device, a doctor can capture images of the patient (before the surgery) which helps them to develop a precise surgical plan. During surgery, the O-Arm images allow surgeons to confirm proper placement of implants. After implants are placed, surgeons can use the O-Arm to confirm correct placement in the spine to ensure the precision of surgical procedure.

Before showcasing this technology, patients were having MRI or CT scan before surgery. Doctors were using 1- or 2D images and intra-operative fluoroscopic images to guide them, thereby placing implants by applying knowledge about standard anatomy.

O-Arm technology delivers simple and fast access to real-time, multi-plane 2D as well as 3D images, and makes it possible for surgeons to see what’s going inside the patient’s body during the surgical procedure. This special feature minimizes the chances of error (which is in millimeters as implants need to be placed with extreme accuracy).

The O-Arm image guidance provides 3D visualization of the spine, which can be used for pre-operative planning and highly accurate intra-operative navigation increasing the safety of complex spinal procedures unlike the conventional methods which use X-ray, CT and MRI images which have higher chances of pedicle screw misplacement. Navigation not only helps surgeons to guide their instruments for more precise implant placement but also reduces fluoro-exposure to the surgeon, staff technicians, as well as the patient.