Alzenau, February 4, 2015. SIGNUS (Alzenau) has signalled the start of greater safety in operating room management with the market launch of OSIRION® I. This intraoperative monitoring system
helps surgeons to detect nerves in good time and protect them during spinal operations. The system records neurophysiological activity using electromyographs (EMG). The measurements are displayed in real-time by means of optical (traffic light colours) and acoustic signals, so that users can interpret the results easily and respond quickly. When performing surgery on the spine, neurological damage can occur during any phase of the procedure. Promptly recognizing the risk of possible nerve damage and initiating the appropriate measures is therefore essential.
“The feedback from the medical community shows us that additional safety in the OR is gaining importance, and the use of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IOM) systems is becoming more and more common. Speed and ease of use of the system play an important role for users,” says SIGNUS Managing Director, Uwe Siedler.
“Meeting the demand of spine surgeons for a solution that is both reliable and user-friendly was of paramount importance in the development of OSIRION®”, emphasizes Dr Azad Kheder, who leads the OSIRION® project and has many years’ experience with neuromonitoring. OSIRION® I enables all neurophysiological activity to be displayed to the surgeon during an operation using electromyograms in traffic light colours – depending on the degree of risk to the nerves – and labels, as well as acoustic signals.
During a surgical procedure the action potential of the muscles supplied by the nerves can be derived electromyographically using electrodes. The surgeon therefore receives continuous feedback about the condition of the innervated nerves during preparation and instrumentation of pedicles, and when positioning screws. If the nerves are at risk, the neuromonitor will give an optical and acoustic feedback signal. In the case of ventral access to the cervical spine, it is also possible to monitor the vocal chord nerves using the nerve retractor. All measurements are documented and are available to the surgeon following the operation. Study data prove that EMG-triggered IOM systems are a sensitive and reliable method for detecting perforations when setting pedicle screws1 , and that postoperative nerve damage can be reduced if such systems are used.2 The use of OSIRION® can reduce the risk to both physicians and patients by shortening the operating time, reducing revision surgeries and minimizing radiation exposure, among other things. For more information on OSIRION® I please visit: www.signus.com
Sources 1 Calancie B, Madsen P, Lebwohl N. Stimulus-evoked EMG monitoring during transpedicular lumbosacral spine instrumentation. Initial clinical results. Spine 1994;19(24):2780-86. 2 Bose B, Wierzbowski LR, Sestokas AK. Neurophysiologic monitoring of spinal nerve root function during instrumented posterior lumbar spine surgery. Spine 2002;27(13):1444-50.
Brief profile of SIGNUS SIGNUS
Medizintechnik supports surgeons and medical professionals by providing innovative and safe solutions for the treatment of spinal disorders – to give patients the best possible mobility in their daily routines. Commitment creates trust: Our years of experience and comprehensive expertise give us a clear understanding of the needs of medical experts and patients. This enables us to quickly transform new requirements into reliable, premium-quality products. This has been our goal as a family-run company since 1994.
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