SSM Health St. Joseph Hospital-Lake St. Louis became the first hospital in Missouri to implement 7D Surgical's Flash navigation system for spine surgery, Fox 2 News reported March 18.
Sixty facilities across the globe have purchased the navigation system, including Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic and Stanford (Calif.) Hospital.
The Flash system uses visible light to create a 3D image for surgical navigation, eliminating patient and staff exposure to intraoperative radiation, according to the company.
The device reduces radiation exposure for the patient and surgical team, shortens surgery times and improves accuracy, Timothy Graven, DO, a spine surgeon at the hospital, told Fox 2 News.
Dr. Graven has used Flash in spinal fusion procedures and sees the device having similar benefits for lumbar and cervical spine surgeries, neurosurgery, and ENT procedures.