PoleStar Surgical MRI System
The PoleStar® Surgical MRI System from Medtronic helps improve clinical outcomes by providing real-time intra-operative imaging used in computer-assisted surgery.
About the PoleStar Surgical MRI System
The PoleStar Surgical MRI system is the only compact intra-operative MRI image guidance system that can be integrated into a standard operating room without extensive construction. It provides seamless integration of real-time, 3D visualization imaging with navigated surgery, enabling neurosurgeons to improve patient outcomes for brain tumor resections.
PoleStar Surgical Imaging Clinical Benefits
- Eliminates uncertainties resulting from brain shift during the surgery
- Helps preserve healthy tissue by verifying the extent of resection
- Confirms surgical goals are met before the patient leaves the OR, which reduces the likelihood that the patient will need repeat surgery
- Enables smaller craniotomies resulting in faster recovery time and shorter hospital stays
- Provides tumor differentiation capabilities that enable neurosurgeons to biopsy and operate on lesions that might otherwise be considered inoperable
PoleStar Surgical Imaging Ease-of-Integration Benefits
- Choose between a fully integrated StealthStation® Navigation System or a mobile StealthStation System
- Can retrofit an existing OR to maximize OR utilization for other uses when system is stowed
- Compatible with standard OR equipment and surgical instruments, and compact enough to fit under a standard operating table
- Accommodates most patient positions (lateral, supine, and prone) and provides ergonomic head holder and accessories
- Allows for full access to the patient when the magnet is stowed under the OR table
- Doesn’t require radio frequency (RF) shielding of the entire OR due to the portable PoleStar StarShield® RF Shield solution
System Specifications
Key magnet and system specifications for the PoleStar® N30™ and N20™ surgical imaging systems are provided below.
| Magnet Specifications | N30 | N20 |
| Type | Permanent | SAME |
Design | Open & Compact | SAME |
| Field | 0.15 T | SAME |
| Maximum gradient amplitude | 23.5 mT/m | 22 mT/m |
| Field of View | 16 cm x 20 cm x20 cm | SAME |
| Gradient slew rate | 80 T/m/S | 20 T/m/S |
| Aperture | 25 cm | SAME |
| 5 Gauss line | 2.2 m (7.2 ft) | SAME |
| System Dimensions & Weight | ||
| Height (in lowered position) | 37.2" (0.95 m) | 40.4" (1.03 m) |
| Depth | 50.0" (1.3 m) | SAME |
| Width | 31.5" (.8 m) | SAME |
| Weight | 1500 lbs (680 kg) | 1675 lbs (760 kg) |
Additional PoleStar N30 surgical imaging system specs:
- Operating Temperature: 04° to 72° F (18° to 22° C)
- Shipping and Storage: 40° to 115° F (5° to 45° C)
- Operating Voltage: 3 phase, 400 V x 12 amp
- Frequency: 50 Hz to 60 Hz
- Power: 9 kVA
- Operating Relative Humidity: 20% to 80% Non-condensing
- Shipping and Storage Relative Humidity: 10% to 50% Non-condensing
- Scan Time: 8 sec to 13 min (average/typical is 3.5 to 7 min). With the new N30, scan times for T2 and FLAIR scans can be reduced by half due to the stronger gradients. The greater the detail needed, the longer the scan.
- Slice Thickness: 1.5 mm pixel size, 2 – 5 mm slice thickness (contiguous)
PoleStar N20 System side-by-side with PoleStar N30 System