VISIUS Surgical Theatre Enhances Stereotactic Procedures
WINNIPEG, Dec. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - IMRIS Inc. (NASDAQ: IMRS; TSX: IM)
("IMRIS" or the "Company") today announced the first stereotactic
neurosurgical procedures that have been performed in a VISIUS Surgical
Theatre using the Company's new head fixation and imaging coil system.
The first case, performed at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis,
Missouri, U.S.A. by Dr. Joshua Dowling, Department of Neurosurgery,
Washington University School of Medicine, involved the successful
surgical treatment of an adult patient diagnosed with Essential Tremor.
Remaining awake for the entire procedure, the patient noticed the
results immediately when picking up a cup during surgery without
trembling. So pleased with the procedure, the patient asked the
surgeon during the case to have the other side of the brain treated.
Dr. Dowling said, "This case represented a significant improvement in
the way we care for our patients. With the VISIUS Surgical Theatre, we
eliminate the need to transport the patient from the OR to the imaging
department and back again. We now have the ability to take an MR image
of the patient, plan the surgery and perform the entire procedure all
in the same room without moving the patient, which streamlines our
workflow and reduces stress on the patient."
In the second case, Dr. Dowling used the new stereotactic capabilities
of the suite to treat an adult patient suffering from dystonia.
Traditionally, patients with dystonia are anesthetized for MR imaging,
requiring that they are transported between a conventional OR and the
radiology department before the procedure. Dr. Dowling added:
"Performing stereotactic procedures in the VISIUS Surgical Theatre
eliminates the need for transporting an anesthetized patient and the
anesthesia equipment through the hospital and reduces the overall time
under sedation."
The latest development from IMRIS making this possible is a
one-of-a-kind head fixation system that integrates with IMRIS's
flexible head coil and MR-compatible operating room table. The new
device enables preoperative MR imaging and surgical planning as the
patient remains on the OR table in the optimal surgical position,
followed by a safe and rapid transition to the surgical procedure. Dr.
Dowling commented: "With this latest innovation, we can now treat
movement disorders such as Parkinson's Disease and dystonia in our
VISIUS Surgical Theatre with greater workflow efficiencies than in
conventional operating rooms."
To date, more than 6,000 procedures have been completed in VISIUS
Surgical Theatres located in leading hospitals around the world. David
Graves, CEO IMRIS commented: "Enabling stereotactic procedures opens
the door to a wider range of clinical applications that can be
performed in the VISIUS Surgical Theatre and provides new opportunities
for hospitals to maximize the utilization of the suite."
About IMRIS
IMRIS (NASDAQ: IMRS; TSX: IM) is a global leader in providing image
guided therapy solutions through its VISIUS Surgical Theatre - a
revolutionary, multifunctional surgical environment that provides
unmatched intraoperative vision to clinicians to assist in decision
making and enhance precision in treatment. VISIUS Surgical Theatres
serve the neurosurgical, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular markets and
have been selected by leading medical institutions around the world.
SOURCE IMRIS Inc.
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