PathKeeper Surgical has entered into a know-how agreement with the Mayo Clinic to research radiation levels in pediatric spine surgeries.
The research will focus on reducing patient radiation exposure using minimally invasive optical navigation and using intraoperative measurement tools for scoliosis correction.
Mayo Clinic pediatric spine surgeons Drs. Noelle Larson and Todd Milbrandt are collaborating with PathKeeper because of its optical navigation, which prioritizes precision, safety, and minimization of radiation exposure. The goal is to improve interventions and mitigate risks associated with scoliosis surgery while also creating new possibilities for complex deformity correction.
“We are proud to collaborate with Mayo Clinic,” PathKeeper Founder and CEO Erez Lampert said in a news release. “Our focus on accuracy and radiation reduction underscores our commitment to advancing spine surgery, and providing surgeons with the information they need to make decisions with very high precision.”
Some of the R&D efforts in the partnership include refining and expanding the application of PathKeeper’s technology to address the unique challenges posed by pediatric spine surgery. It aims to elevate the standard of care while improving safety for young patients.
More about PathKeeper’s technology
The PathKeeper system has real-time precise tracking of the surgical field and can segment the spine into individual vertebrae and track each one independently, according to the company. The independent tracking allows for a quick update of the surgical field when necessary.
PathKeeper uses a near-infrared (NIR) light, which operates seamlessly alongside surgical lights and does not disrupt the surgeons’ view of the surgical field.
The company designed the software on the system specifically for thoraco-lumbo-sacral spinal procedures. The software enhances CT scans to provide graphical tools and in a planning and visualization environment. It enables surgeons to make more accurate and quantitative decisions for the surgery trajectory.