The surgeon's co-pilot: pin-point accuracy through electromagnetic navigation systems

The position and alignment of surgical tools in the patient's body must always be kept in view during the operation process to guarantee success and safety. With fine sensors at the tip of the instruments and an electromagnetic signal, Fiagon's electromagnetic navigation systems accurately reproduce their position in the body.

In this interview with MEDICA-tradefair.com, James Keck explains how Fiagon's electromagnetic systems work, in which fields they are mainly used and what plans the company has for the future.

What can surgical navigation systems generally contribute to surgical interventions?

James Keck: In a word: safety. We at Fiagon believe surgical navigation systems, or IGS, are best pictured as the surgeon's co-pilot. IGS provide assistance, support, and reassurance to achieve the operating team goal: safer surgical interventions.

How do Fiagon's electromagnetic navigation systems work?

Keck: Fiagon's instruments excel through our proprietary micro-sensors and software filtering, which together provide a superior navigation experience. Fiagon navigation, like other IGS companies, can be functionally compared to the GPS navigation in your car. By combining a CT scan, which works like a map, a signal emitted by an electromagnetic sensor, and a location identifier – which is a sensor in our instruments- we are able to navigate the anatomy.

What are the advantages compared to systems based on other methods?

Keck: Fiagon offers some advantages over optical systems. We track our instruments for example at the distal tip. It also offers advantages over other electromagnetic navigation systems, as we manufacture smaller sensors. Fiagon's micro-sensors are the smallest on the market and boast a greater range of DoF's - degrees of freedom. The resulting advantage is a pin-point accuracy. The additional DoF allows Fiagon to consistently track instrument orientation as well as position.

In which areas are your systems mainly used?

Keck: Fiagon systems are mainly used in ENT and Brain surgery.

The trend in medical technology and the OR of the future is moving towards networking devices. What can your systems contribute to this trend?

Keck: Currently, Fiagon is able to wirelessly connect to scanners for the safe and rapid transmission of data. In addition, we can support data transmission over internal hospital networks in a similar manner. As an aside, we are very excited for this trend to become mainstream, we have a number of exciting ideas to present once this is a bit more wide-spread.

What are Fiagon's plans for future developments?

Keck: What I can say is that Fiagon will be staying true to our founding ideals: Developing innovative products that streamline surgical navigation workflow and maximize safety, allowing the surgeon to maintain focus on the patient in front of them.