Wednesday, September 28, 2022
Stryker, a globally recognized medical technology company, has announced the launch of its Q Guidance System designed for spine applications. This innovative system combines state-of-the-art camera technology with advanced algorithms from the newly introduced Spine Guidance Software, providing enhanced surgical planning and navigation capabilities. The Spine Guidance Software, when used in conjunction with the Q Guidance System, serves as a planning and intraoperative guidance system for open or percutaneous computer-assisted surgery. Notably, it is the first spine navigation software to receive FDA clearance for use with pediatric patients aged 13 and older.
Robbie Robinson, President of the Spine division, highlights the system's advantages, stating, "The Q Guidance System offers cutting-edge tracking options with its 4th generation FP8000 camera, and Spine Guidance Software allows for advanced planning and computer-assisted execution. With the addition of the Q Guidance System, customers now have access to a comprehensive solution that encompasses imaging, guidance, and instruments, catering to complex customer needs. In the future, our aim is to leverage the versatility of this system to advance technologies across various specialties, including cranial, spine, ENT, and orthopedics."
The Q Guidance System provides several benefits for surgeons, including:
Proprietary camera: The system incorporates a 4th generation FP8000 camera, which offers unmatched speeds and multiple optical tracking methods, including full-spectrum active/passive hybrid optical tracking. It stands as the only guidance system featuring proprietary active technology and a non-invasive patient tracker called SpineMask.
Image processing: The Spine Guidance Software features redesigned applications, semi-automatic and automatic processing features, gesture recognition, and broad compatibility with various types of image sets.
Spine Guidance Software: This software aids surgeons in optimizing their workflow, reducing their time in the operating room, and addressing complex clinical decisions and techniques during surgery. Its computational power supports Stryker's spine product and software roadmap, with plans to develop and release new technologies within the Q ecosystem.
Dr. Stephen George, Director of Spine Surgery at Nicklaus Children's Hospital, attests to the software's effectiveness, stating, "In my experience, Spine Guidance Software truly simplifies preoperative planning, navigation, and execution. The Q Guidance System is a powerful platform that offers reliability and performance, scalable to a wide range of surgical procedures, from single-level fusion to multi-level deformity correction. When used with the Airo TruCT scanner, the software minimizes intraoperative planning time thanks to its auto-segmentation capability while allowing imaging of the patient in the surgical position. Its intuitive and customizable software enables us to configure the system according to our preferences."
Stryker will showcase the Q Guidance System and provide demonstrations at upcoming events, including the Society for Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery (SMISS) 2022 Annual Forum in Las Vegas (booth #206, #208, #210), the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS) 2022 Annual Meeting in San Francisco (booth #419), and the North American Spine Society (NASS) Annual Meeting in Chicago (booth #4211).
