GLOW800 augmented reality fluorescence integrated with a M530 OH6 neurosurgical microscope. Photo courtesy of Cleopatra Charalampaki, MD, PhD, Professor of Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Cologne Medical Center, Germany
Leica Microsystems will be revealing a new generation of augmented reality imaging technologies for surgical microscopes, at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) Annual Scientific Meeting 2017, in Los Angeles, USA.
Augmented reality imaging technologies supplement the microscope view, in order to support surgical decision-making and teaching during intricate neurosurgical procedures. Visitors to booth #1939 will be among the first to experience a groundbreaking new approach to vascular fluorescence during neurosurgery, known as GLOW800 augmented reality fluorescence*. Further technologies being showcased at AANS include the new CaptiView HD image injection, 3D visualization, and the unique capability of the OH microscope family from Leica to display three types of intrasurgical fluorescence.
“Leica Microsystems is, and always has been, committed to developing innovative new ways to support its customer’s needs and requirements. In delicate neurosurgery the outstanding optical quality provided by our microscopes is not always enough. This customer pain point motivated us to develop innovative new ways to augment surgical visualization so that surgeons can operate with as much knowledge and confidence as possible,” says Markus Lusser, President Leica Microsystems. “Moreover, we ensure these new augmented technologies can be fully integrated into our premium neurosurgical microscope at any time. This gives surgeons and hospitals complete flexibility, protects their investment, and helps them remain at the cutting edge when we introduce the next advance in augmented reality imaging.”
GLOW800 augmented reality fluorescence will combine the high contrast of Near Infra-Red (NIR) fluorescence imaging with the full visual spectrum of white light into a single, real-time image. Instead of today’s cumbersome workflow of switching between the white light microscope view and a black and white fluorescence image, the surgeons will be able to see the white light image combined with colored NIR fluorescence flow in real-time. By overlaying the colored AR fluorescence image in the oculars, the surgeon has a more complete view of anatomical structures with no interruption or reorientation needed.
* GLOW800 is not yet cleared for use