Brainlab, a manufacturer of software-driven systems for targeted, less-invasive medical treatments, announced today that Akron General Medical Center will install both Brainsuite® iMRI and iCT, making it one of only a handful of hospitals in the world to offer both solutions. Brainsuite iMRI and iCT integrate intra-operative imaging—from high-field MRI to multi-slice CT—with surgical navigation, planning and digital data management in the OR. The fully integrated neurosurgical suites will be an integral part of Akron General's new Neuroscience Institute.
"At Akron General, we are proud to be at the forefront of offering the latest technology and cutting-edge care for our patients," said Georges Z. Markarian, MD, Chairman of Akron General's Neuroscience Institute. "Our new neurosurgical suites are the next step in our continued development of Akron General as one of the area's preeminent leaders in neurologic and neurosurgical care."
"We are honored Akron General selected Brainsuite iMRI and iCT as the neurosurgical foundation of their Neuroscience Institute. Akron General's leadership and commitment to world-class medical care embodies the intelligence and innovation behind Brainsuite and we look forward to the advancements in patient care that can result from these powerful systems" stated Sean Clark, President, Brainlab Inc.
Brainsuite iMRI masters the technological challenges of placing an MR scanner in the OR by digitally integrating all components. MR integration allows advanced intra-operative imaging sequences, such as DTI and fMRI. This supports surgeons during a procedure in identifying critical functional areas and pathways within the brain.
Brainsuite iCT integrates a multi-slice intra-operative CT scanner into the surgical workflow to provide surgeons with precise and up-to-date anatomical information during surgery. In cases where post-operative imaging would be relied upon, intra-operative information supports surgeons, like with iMRI, in ensuring that the objective of the procedure has been achieved. The integrated navigation system links real-time, intra-operative images with the spatial position of the surgical instruments. This is a key technology to allow for the possibility of a higher level of accuracy, potentially making surgery more precise and safer for the patient.
Brainsuite is powered by the digital data management system Brainsuite Net, which provides surgeons and OR staff intra-operative access to patient data from the hospital's Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS) and controls the flow of all digital data within the OR Suites. A fully integrated OR can improve patient outcomes by providing surgeons with more access and control during complex neurosurgical procedures.
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