IMRIS Adds Rocker Arm Accessory to Visius Surgical Theater

Minneapolis, Minn.-based IMRIS Inc. has released a new rocker arm accessory that expands choices for neurosurgeons to select the best fixation suited for patients during procedures using intraoperative imaging inside the Visius surgical theater. The accessory recently received 510(k) clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

The new rocker arm accessory is designed to give more flexibility for the surgeon to stabilize, support and position patient heads with varying cranial anatomy, sizes and conditions using the MRI-compatible IMRIS head fixation device (HFD). When attached to the head fixation device—a clamp-like device—the rocker arm helps to reduce the pressure on the individual contact points on the patient’s skull.

“Providing these optimal tools for neurosurgeons will allow more patients to benefit from the value of diagnostic quality imaging in the operating room with Visius iMR (intraoperative magnetic resonance),” said President and CEO Jay D. Miller. “The development of the rocker arm is an example of IMRIS’ ability to design products and features that allow neurosurgeons to use intraoperative MR (magnetic resonance) inside the Visius surgical theater for an expanding patient population.”

Inside a Visius surgical theater equipped with high-field iMRI, surgeons have on-demand access to real-time diagnostic quality imaging during the procedure and from the operating room table as the scanner uniquely moves to the patient on ceiling-mounted rails. The IMRIS HFDs support the unique ability to limit patient movement or re-positioning and maintain optimal positioning for both surgical access and intraoperative imaging during neurosurgical procedures.

The VISIUS iMRI reportedly provides neurosurgeons the ability to assess and decide to perform further resection for removing as much tumor as possible by clearly visualizing tumor and healthy brain tissue which otherwise are hard to differentiate.