Stealth Station
At United Health Services Hospitals, our surgical team has used Stealth
technology in spine and brain surgery with remarkable success since 1995.
Stealth technology improves neurosurgery outcomes
The StealthStationª works by using imaging data from computed tomography and/or
magnetic resonance imaging to generate a 3-D model of a patient’s head or spine.
The 3D images can be viewed at many angles allowing surgeons to plan a
procedure. Neurosurgeons use the system to calculate the shortest, safest route
to a tumor. For spinal fusion surgery, the system directs surgeons toward the
perfect angle for screw placement. Precise planning helps ensure a successful
surgical outcome, especially for patients with anatomical deformities that may
not match textbook examples.
Once the electronic 3-D model is perfected, it is matched to the patient’s body.
In the case of brain surgery, technicians place nine adhesive dots, called
fiducials, on the patient’s scalp. These dots serve as known coordinates. These
nine reference points allow a 10th point -- such as a tumor or a surgical site
-- to be located with pinpoint precision.
During the scan, a computer detects whatever dot appears in each of the scan’s
hundreds of views, or slices. The computer then converts the scan’s images into
a three-dimensional view of the brain, showing locations of these dots. That
data is transferred to the StealthStationª computer in the operating room at
Wilson Medical Center in Johnson City.
When the technology is used in brain procedures, surgeons use a probe to touch
fixed reference points on the scalp. The probe is equipped with three LEDs
(light-emitting diodes). As the surgeon adjusts the probe, a camera above the
patient detects the LEDs and calculates their coordinates and angles.
Armed with coordinate and directional data from the probe and LEDs, the computer
calculates the most direct, and safest route to a brain tumor and guides the
surgeons to it. As surgeons proceed toward the tumor, their probe-emitted LEDs
tell the computer where they are in the brain and what direction they are
moving. If they begin to stray from their prescribed route, the computer
indicates this immediately. The surgeon virtually sees through tissue to place
instruments at the precise location of the surgical site.
The computer can also show surgeons what part of the brain lies just in front of
them -- before they get there. This prevents accidental contact with blood
vessels and other parts of brain they want to avoid.
Once they reach their destination, surgeons rely on StealthStationª to show them
when they have completely removed a tumor. Stealth also helps them avoid
accidental injury to parts of the brain adjacent to a tumor.
"Previously," says Dr. Bajwa, "we were forced to use educated guesses to decide
the best way to go toward a tumor. This technology does away with guesswork."
Click on Image to view
Stealth Station commercial
Using the StealthStation routinely reduces surgery time -- and related time
under anesthesia -- by 50 percent or more, says Dr. Bajwa. Hospital stays after
surgery also are greatly reduced.
The United Health Services neurosurgery team consists of :
Saeed A. Bajwa, M.D.
Daniel D. Galyon, M.D.
John J. Gartman, M.D.
Rida S. Mazagri, M.D.
Khalid Sethi, M.D.
All from the Southern New York Neurosurgical Group, P.C.
Thomas Pufky, R.N.
Michael Lockwood, Stealth Coordinator
Both from United Health Services Hospitals
