Surgical Procedures

Neuronavigation for Tumor Resection

Medtronic’s complete suite of tumor resection instrumentation and neuronavigation technologies provide surgeons with the precision, control and visualization necessary to resect the maximum amount of tumor, while preserving function and minimizing potential impact to critical brain structures.

How Neuronavigation Works

Using StealthStation^® neuronavigation, surgeons can visualize the patient’s anatomy in 3D prior to and during surgery while also seeing the exact location of their surgical instrumentation. The StealthStation system may also be used in combination with the PoleStar^® Surgical MRI System.

StealthStation navigation enables surgeons to:

• Enhance tumor boundary recognition
• Determine the optimal placement and size of the craniotomy
• Account for brain shift during the procedure
• Plan the least invasive surgical path

Microscope Integration

Neuronavigation Microscope Integration (PDF, 239 KB)
Learn about StealthStation^® Microscope Integration.

Microscope integration can transform the navigation experience for tumor resections by enabling surgeons to:

• Visualize StealthStation images through microscope oculars
• Navigate a microscope’s focal point as a virtual probe
• Eliminate the need for pre-surgery setup or draping concerns due to an integrated Medtronic navigation bracket

Microscope integration

Neuronavigation Ultrasound Integration

Read more information on our SonoNav™ ultrasound StealthStation^® interface.

Customization and Streamlined Patient Management

Surgeons have the ability to set their own preferences for each image-guided tumor resection, providing a personalized and consistent experience for each neuronavigation case – even with staff rotations. Additional features and options for grouping, transferring, and archiving important patient data helps streamline patient management.

Neuronavigation for Biopsy Procedures

Through close collaboration with surgeons and staff, Medtronic has developed advanced neuronavigation biopsy solutions, including both a frameless passive biopsy system and external Passive Biopsy system, which can be selected based on the clinical need and surgeon’s preference.

These image-guided biopsy systems help surgeons plan and perform faster and less-invasive brain biopsies by:

• Eliminating visual obstructions and optimizing cranial access
• Providing direct depth-stop calculation for accurate location of lesion
• Confirming the biopsy location with biopsy needle navigation
• Tailoring procedural flow for each surgeon’s preference

Download the Synergy^® Cranial Brain Biopsy Datasheet (PDF, 6 MB)
Get the facts on Synergy Cranial Image Guided Brain Biopsy.

Navigus Frameless Passive Biopsy System

• Frameless Biopsy System – A skull-mounted trajectory guide provides access through a small burr hole

Detail - Trajectory Guide Kit – External: 9733065
Internal: 9733066

Detail - Internal bases pictured on top. External bases pictured at bottom.

Detail - Image guided tumor biopsy – trajectory stem base

Image guided tumor biopsy - Frameless Biopsy steps

• Vertek^® Passive Biopsy Solution – A flexible arm and aiming device provides versatility in positioning and targeting

Image guided tumor biopsy – Passive Biopsy System

Neuronavigation Ultrasound Integration

Read more information on our SonoNav^™ ultrasound StealthStation^® interface.

Neuronavigation for Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Management

Our neuronavigation system offerings work together with either optical or AxiEM^™ electromagnetic tracking systems to facilitate minimally invasive ventricular access and optimal shunt placement, providing flexible options according to each surgeon’s needs.

Benefits of AxiEM Electromagnetic Tracking for CSF Management

Unlike conventional optical technologies, the AxiEM electromagnetic tracking system utilizes a miniaturized (single-coil) navigation sensor, which allows for tip tracking of flexible surgical instruments such as stylets, endoscopes and catheters. The AxiEM system also offers both pinned and pinless procedure options. Pinless, imaged-guided shunt placement provides the following benefits:

• Enables neuronavigation without the need for affixing the patient in head-holder
• Better enables the use of surgical navigation for a ventriculostomy and other ventricular access or burr hole procedures
• When used in conjunction with a non-invasive (adhesive) patient tracker, it eliminates the need for additional incisions

In addition to these benefits, the AxiEM system is a space-saving alternative to optical tracking systems, helping optimize ergonomics and surgical workflow in the OR.

Flexible Stylet                AxiEM System Pointer Probes

Patient References

Surgical Planning and Navigation for Deep Brain Stimulation

The Medtronic functional neuronavigation solutions, called FrameLink™, enable clinical teams to achieve the precision required for DBS procedures.

Convenient and Easy to Use

• Surgeons can plan whenever and wherever it is convenient (on their StealthStation^® planning station), and navigate using those plans once in the OR
• Flexible: Use a stereotactic frame, a microTargeting^™ Platform, or a Nexframe^® system

Advanced Image Processing

• Importation and manipulation of multiple imaging modalities
• Precise image fusion of multiple data sets
• Advanced image correlation algorithms enable precise manual or automatic image fusion
• Flexible image merge verification toolkit, including “blend,” “windows,” and “split” options
• Image reformatting along AC-PC plane
• Interactive Schaltenbrand-Wharen Atlas and Talairach Grid

Detail - Precise image fusion of multiple data sets

Detail - Automatic frame detection and registration of stereotactic frames

Automated Patient Management

• Enhanced exam handling – automatic data series grouping by patient

Detail - Enhanced exam handling — automatic data series grouping by patient

Seamless OR Workflow

• Automatic frame detection and registration of stereotactic frames
• Ability to drag and drop surgical plans with surgical plan angle values
• Customized for the Medtronic Nexframe system
• Planning capability for the FHC microTargeting platform

Detail - Interactive Schaltenbrand-Wahren Atlas and Talairach Grid