sinus surgery.
The stripped-down units, which don't feature the bells and whistles
of more advanced and expensive platforms, are available at a lower
cost, which is also attractive to surgery centers operating on a tight
budget. The units' electromagnetic systems track a single instrument,
probe or balloon dilation device, says Dr. Senior. They also boast a
thin profile and small footprint, making them ideally suited for set-
tings with limited clinical space.
"Most of the units ENT surgeons use in the OR contain targeting
software capabilities that let you use the platforms during complex
neurologic procedures," says Dr. Senior, who points out the new
streamlined image guidance platforms don't have advanced software,
meaning they're designed for use during relatively basic sinus proce-
dures.
2. Improved navigation
Image-guided technology makes surgical techniques easier to apply.
New image-guidance systems that are beginning to receive FDA
approval give surgeons the ability to plot out a track into an individual
patient's sinus, says Dr. Senior. The tracking software provides real-
time feedback by alerting surgeons if they stray from the intended
path, which is superimposed over their endoscopic view.
"That capability lets surgeons map out the ideal intraoperative plan
and preload it into the system," he explains. "During surgery, the sur-
geon can follow the track as he enters the sinus and watch as he
moves along his preferred approach."
Dr. Senior believes the developing technology will likely provide the
greatest benefit in frontal sinus surgery. "That's the area with the most
complex anatomy, and the real-time tracking will let surgeons draw
out their operative course around existing anatomy to minimize
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