Neurosurgeons at Pittsburgh-based Allegheny Health Network became the first in the region to use Medtronic's OsteoCool RF Ablation System.
Here are four points:
1. The OsteoCool RF Ablation System is designed to treat metastatic spinal tumors. The systems internally-cooled bipolar probes deliver heat energy directly to the tumor.
2. Medtronic equipped the device with a temperature-controlled system to prevent overheating and damage to the surrounding tissue.
3. Nestor Tomycz, MD, was first in the region to use the system. He recommends patients who suffer from spinal fractures due to spinal tumors undergo kyphoplasty with it.
4. AHN's Neurosciences Institute is a leader in minimally invasive neurosurgery. The health system consists of eight hospitals, an employed physician organization and a research institute.