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PercuNav Image Guidance software from Traxtal superimposes the precise, real-time location and orientation of the instruments on pre- operative and live images of the patient using minute electro-magnetic sensors.

Traxtal is the world leader and proven pioneer in the innovation, development and manufacture of computer assisted soft tissue navigation technologies. Traxtal was founded in 1996 to focus exclusively on the advanced design of instrumentation for image guided interventions. Traxtal will showcase its PercuNav(TM) 2.0 software for the PercuNav system at the Radiological Society of North America's 94th Scientific Assembly and Annual Meeting.

The PercuNav system consists of the Traxtal Tx(TM) mobile system cart, PercuNav software, and a wide range of instruments including flexible needles, biopsy devices and RFA introducers. Using minute electro-magnetic sensors embedded in the tips of these instruments, the software superimposes the precise, real-time location and orientation of the instruments on pre- operative and live images of the patient. It acts like a GPS system for medical instruments, and is the only such product available that allows accurate tracking of flexible instrument tips inside a patient's anatomy.

It is the only computer assisted; image-guided diagnostic and interventional system cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for all imaging modalities, and is the only such system that features a broad range of flexible and rigid "tip-tracked" instruments. It is also the only commercially available soft tissue navigation system with tracked instrumentation that provides the option of navigation with multimodal image fusion with any single modality, such as CT or ultrasound imaging.

CT and MR images provide physicians with terrific tools for identifying areas of interest but are often impractical for navigation purposes. Ultrasound is a great live imaging modality but images can be difficult to interpret. Traxtal set out to combine all available imaging data with real time tracking of the tips of flexible instruments on one screen to allow the physician to accurately target and navigate directly to areas of interest with confidence. Traxtal is delighted with the extremely positive physician response to the PercuNav, said Neil Glossop, PhD, Traxtal President.

The PercuNav system delivers powerful solutions for diagnostic imaging. Physicians can identify and mark areas of interest on CT or MR scans which can then be overlaid with live ultrasound for diagnostic scanning. This allows areas of interest to be quickly located and compared under both imaging modalities, while compensating for patient motion and respiration. It provides interventional radiologists and sonographers with the broadest image fusion capabilities available for soft tissue navigation. This system's capabilities are strengthened with the new, PercuNav 2.0 software.

• PercuNav 2.0 provides for greater ease-of-use with a more streamlined, intuitive user interface.

• PercuNav 2.0 increases the system's data import options to include PET/CT and 3D volumes created from rotational fluoroscopy acquisitions

• PercuNav 2.0 adds a Digital Navigation Link to Philips' iU22 intelligent ultrasound system, resulting in higher quality imaging and improved workflow.

• It also allows clinicians to download segmented CT volumes and target plans from Philips' Extended Brilliance Workspace to the PercuNav system for use  in the planning and delivery of therapy.

• And it adds several new instruments to the extensive range of tracked instrumentation already supported by the system.

PercuNav 2.0 was developed and designed with feedback from clinical community to enhance the system's ease-of-use, clinical utility, and connectivity with popular imaging technologies. “We believe that our technology can improve the accuracy of interventional procedures with less time spent in CT, enabling the reduction of CT-suite costs while delivering excellent patient care” said Dr. Glossop.

Traxtal is committed to providing seamless compatibility with all major vendors' imaging systems. Traxtal has extensive experience in image guided intervention as an OEM supplier of custom designed tools since 1997. Traxtal will begin to ship PercuNav systems with the 2.0 software in the first quarter of 2009. Traxtal is in Booth 9539 in the North Building, Hall B of McCormick Place in Chicago for RSNA's annual meeting.

For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.traxtal.com.

Source: Traxtal Inc.