Spine navigation systems are designed to help surgeons improve precision and get patients better faster. So far four new systems are htting the market in the U.S. this year.
1. Sherwin Hua, MD, performed the first case in the U.S. using Taiwan Main Orthopedic Biotechnology's Caduceus S augmented reality spine navigation system in March. The navigation system uses 2D C-arm imaging technology to create a map of the patient's spine and uses real-time visualization.
2. Proprio's Paradigm spine navigation system received FDA 510(k) clearance in April. Paradigm is the first platform to use light field technology in spine navigation and creates real-time 3D views of the anatomy and surgical scene, according to a news release. It aims to minimize radiation exposure, reduce workflow time by up to 30 minutes and capture 250GB of data per hour.
3. Hunaldo Villalobos, MD, performed the first U.S. case with Captiva Spine's WatchTower spine navigation system. The WatchTower navigation and robotics system merges a preoperative CT scan with 2D imaging to produce real-time 3D images of a patient's spine during procedures, according to a news release. It eliminates the need for intraoperative imaging, minimizes surgical time and reduces radiation exposure.
4. PathKeeper Surgical earned FDA 510(k) for its spine navigation system in June. The PathKeeper system is a 3D optical navigation system that provides real-time tracking of patient anatomy and surgical instruments, according to a news release. It's designed to eliminate radiation exposure during surgeries.