Intraoperative MR imaging improves surgical vision, reduces re-operation
risk in treating epilepsy, tumors, other neurological disorders
MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 8, 2013 /CNW/ - IMRIS Inc. (NASDAQ: IMRS; TSX: IM)
("IMRIS" or the "Company") today announced that a craniotomy recently
performed on a five-year-old boy with epilepsy was the 500th neurosurgical case at Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth,
Texas, using its intraoperative MRI (iMRI) system. Cook Children's was
the second children's hospital in the U.S. and fourth hospital
worldwide with an IMRIS system that features a high-field MRI which
moves between surgical and diagnostic rooms using ceiling-mounted
rails.
"Using the intraoperative MRI allows us to clearly differentiate the
tissue targeted for removal whether resecting for tumor or epilepsy,"
said Dr. John Honeycutt, Medical Director of the Cook Children's
Department of Neurosurgery, who conducted the milestone operation.
"With this enhanced vision, we can remove it more completely while
avoiding critical structures and minimize returns to the operating room
for repeat procedures."
The IMRIS VISIUS® Surgical Theatre with iMRI allows neurosurgeons to take high-quality MR
images during surgery to see the area of the brain they are operating
on in exquisite detail, see tumor size and shape, and distinguish
between healthy and unhealthy tissue more easily. The surgeon can take
images before completing the surgery and check if additional tumor or
abnormal tissue removal is needed to reduce risk of re-operation.
Unlike other iMRI systems, the scanner moves to the patient inside the
OR so the surgical team can maintain optimal surgical positioning,
access and techniques.
The Cook Children's VISIUS iMRI was the first IMRIS suite installed with
two adjoining rooms - one intended for surgery and the other for
diagnostic scanning. In addition to tumor resection and epilepsy
treatment, the surgical theater has been used for cases of chiari
malformation, deep brain stimulation, hydrocephalus, and other
neurological conditions. Honeycutt said the diagnostic portion of the
suite has been helpful in ongoing epilepsy patient care and research.
"As one of the few pediatric neurosurgical centers with an IMRIS VISIUS
iMRI today and one of the largest neurosurgical programs in the
Southwest, we continue to find ways to demonstrate our institution's
commitment to the care of children with these complex neurological
disorders," Honeycutt added.
IMRIS CEO Jay D. Miller said hospitals with VISIUS iMRI are realizing
its value. "Using intraoperative imaging for these complex procedures
has brought improved outcomes for patients and this is reflected in the
increasing volume and variety of procedures."
About Cook Children's Health Care System
Cook Children's Health Care System is a not-for-profit, nationally
recognized pediatric health care organization comprised of seven
entities - a medical center, a physician network, a home health
company, Cook Children's Northeast Hospital, a pediatric surgery
center, a health plan, and the health foundation. Based in Fort Worth,
Texas, the integrated system has more than 60 primary and specialty
care offices throughout North Texas. Its service region includes
Denton, Hood, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant, and Wise counties, with an
additional referral area encompassing nearly half the state.
Cook Children's traces its roots back to 1918, but throughout its
continual change and robust growth, it still embraces an inspiring
promise - to improve the health of every child in its region through
the prevention and treatment of illness, disease, and injury. To live
up to this promise, Cook Children's combines the art of caring with the
use of leading technology and extraordinary collaboration to provide
exceptional care for every child, every day. For more information,
please visit www.cookchildrens.org.
About IMRIS
IMRIS (NASDAQ: IMRS; TSX: IM) is a global leader in providing image
guided therapy solutions through its VISIUS Surgical Theatre - a
revolutionary, multifunctional surgical environment that provides
unmatched intraoperative vision to clinicians to assist in decision
making and enhance precision in treatment. The multi-room suites
incorporate diagnostic quality high-field MR, CT and angio modalities
accessed effortlessly in the operating room setting. VISIUS Surgical
Theatres serve the neurosurgical, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular
markets and have been selected by 54 leading medical institutions
around the world.
Image with caption: "Cook Children's Medical Center reaches 500th procedure milestone using IMRIS intraoperative MRI. (CNW Group/IMRIS Inc.)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20130808_C4788_PHOTO_EN_29684.jpg
SOURCE: IMRIS Inc.
