Siemens Healthineers presents software for trackerless guidance in spinal surgery

Ad Statistics Times Displayed: 79186 Times Visited: 124 Ensure critical devices are ready to go Keep biomedical devices ready to go, so care teams can be ready to care for patients. GE HealthCare's ReadySee™ helps overcome frustrations due to lack of network and device visibility, manual troubleshooting, and downtime. 1 (current) 2 Siemens Healthineers has incorporated Vuze2 guidance software for spinal surgery into its Cios Spin C-arm system and plans to expand integration to its other 2D mobile, 3D mobile, and 3D robotic C-arms in the future. The software supports K-wire placement for pedicle screws by fusing preoperative computed tomography (CT) or intraoperative cone-beam CT (CBCT) images with intraoperative X-ray images of the patient without relying on external tracking hardware like optical cameras, instrument markers, or physical reference frames attached to the patient.Spinal surgery volumes are rising steadily, driven by aging populations and lifestyle-related risk factors including sedentary behavior, obesity, and physical strain. In the U.S. alone, the population aged 65 and older is expected to increase to 82 million by 2050 from 58 million in 2022,3 driving the prevalence of degenerative spinal conditions and the need for interventions such as spinal fusion and stabilization procedures. Spine care is shifting toward minimally invasive techniques, which help reduce tissue damage, blood loss, and recovery times. Over the past year, procedure volumes in the U.S. have increased by an estimated 18.7%.4 Minimally invasive surgeries require guidance technologies to help improve outcomes, as misplaced screws can result in neurological, vascular, or visceral injury and may compromise implant stability. Pooled data show a median placement accuracy of up to 95% for navigated techniques, compared to 92% for fluoroscopy only.5 Until now, however, achieving this level of precision has often involved added complexity, longer setup times, additional hardware, and extra cost.'Our goal is to close the gap between conventional fluoroscopy and advanced optical navigation systems,' said Peter Seitz, head of image-guided surgery and robotics at Siemens Healthineers. 'With Vuze, we expand what mobile C-arms can do in the operating room without adding complexity. Navigation technologies have proven their clinical value, and our vision is to bring that value within reach of every care setting, broadening access for guided spine surgery and complementing the ecosystem of guidance solutions.'Vuze spinal guidance software provides intraoperative guidance for K-wire placement during pedicle screw procedures – the metal implants that act as an anchor point to hold the spine steady while bones heal – and integrates smoothly into established minimally invasive spine surgery workflows. It combines pre-operative 3D planning with intraoperative fluoroscopy to provide continuous image guidance.