Abstract
We present navigation methods and Medtronic products in the otorhinolaryngological area and describe innovation in registration and future development.
As a member of Medtronic Group, our company has been selling surgical navigation systems StealthStation TREON and TRIA. And one of the group divisions Medtronic Japan ENT Business, with lineup including drills for rhinological surgery and those for otological surgery which can be easily connected to the navigation systems, is aiming at providing total support to otorhinolaryngological surgery as the Medtronic group.
For navigation, there are basic registration methods: point registration using the markers; and surface registration in which registration precision is enhanced by registering surface points to effect surface alignment. In addition, we propose a method to complete registration more easily and in shorter time by the use of TRACER registration that acquires hundreds of points in a short time simply by tracing with the probe.
As future development, we are carrying forward to introduce magnetic-field-based navigation system that may solve the problems of instrument size and spacial limitation.
We will continue to pursue further user-oriented products through improving systems and propose new special instruments and integration with peripheral devices.
