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Siemens Healthcare offers an optical navigation system, suitable for spinal as well as trauma surgery.

For surgical interventions, physicians increasingly use modern navigation technologies comparable. With Cappa C-Nav, Siemens Healthcare offers an optical navigation system that is especially suitable for spinal as well as trauma surgery. The new navigation system enables surgeons to perform interventions with greater safety and precision. Additionally, the method also minimizes radiation exposure to the patient as well as the OR staff. Siemens will introduce Cappa C-Nav for the first time at the Congress of the European Federation of National Associations of Orthopaedics and Traumatology (EFORT) in Vienna from June 3 – 6, 2009.

The development of new technologies is propelled forward by the increasing trend toward minimally-invasive operations. Siemens’ years of medical engineering expertise in the OR arena follows this trend and is now offering intra-operative imaging and optical navigation technology. Especially orthopedics and trauma surgeons will benefit from this innovative idea.

Precision is a substantial pre-condition in the OR in general, but in particular in spinal and trauma surgery as well as in orthopedics. In spinal surgery for example the new method helps to accurately position pedicle screws in the spine; in orthopedics navigation technology is used to support online visualization during stabilization of degenerated bones. Prior to the operation, the surgeon creates a 3D X-ray data set of the region of interest. This data set is used like a map for orientation during surgical intervention. The surgeon navigates during the operation by using so-called optical tracking via a special stereo camera. The surgeon is able to use the navigation system easily and by himself via a sterile user interface. The surgeon’s instruments and patient’s body region of interest are provided with differently arranged small reflecting marker spheres. The camera continuously acquires the position of these spheres and informs the navigation system of their location. This enables the surgeon to proceed with even greater accuracy during the operation by virtually testing the length of the screws, for example. Also the ability to continuously check the progress and results of an operation may save patients the need for a second surgical intervention.

Cappa C-Nav is optimally tailored for the mobile C-arm Arcadis Orbic 3D and, if needed, can be retrofitted for these systems. Beginning in June 2009, Cappa C-Nav will be available for the first time in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the largest suppliers of healthcare technology in the world. The company sees itself as a medical solution provider with key competences and innovative strength in diagnostic and therapeutic technologies as well as in knowledge processing including IT and system integration. With its acquisitions in laboratory diagnostics, Siemens Healthcare is the first integrated healthcare company that combines imaging and lab diagnostics, therapy solutions and medical information technology and also supplements these with consultation and services. Siemens Healthcare offers solutions for the entire supply chain under one roof - from prevention and early detection to diagnosis and on to treatment and aftercare. For more information, go to http://www.siemens.com/healthcare.

Source: Siemens Healthcare