Cerebrospinal Fluid Management

More than 150,000 shunt placement procedures take place annually around the world to treat hydrocephalus. Due to the exceedingly high revision rate of this procedure - over 30% in the first year - Medtronic Navigation has long been committed to developing and streamlining neuronavigation technologies and tools needed to make this typically “blind” procedure more accurate and safe.

Our navigation system offerings facilitate ventricular access and optimal shunt placement with either optical or AXIEM™ electromagnetic tracking systems, providing flexible options according to your needs.

State-of-the-Art Catheter Tracking Technologies

When using a standard optical tracking system, our Passive Catheter Introducer (PCI) can be used to track the catheter by simply sliding the shunt or catheter over the probe tip and introducing it into the ventricle. This easy-to-use, wireless instrument is auto verified during the procedure and provides guidance with minimal tissue displacement.

Unlike conventional optical technologies, Medtronic's proprietary AXIEM™ electromagnetic tracking technology utilizes an exclusive single-coil design, which enables the tips of flexible instruments such as catheters, endoscopes and stylets to be tracked at depth in real time. Since AXIEM™ technology eliminates the need for a direct line of sight, surgeon, patient and equipment positioning in the OR is made easier. AXIEM™ technology also provides the optimal pinless procedure solution utilizing a miniature, non-invasive Dynamic Reference Frame or Patient Tracker that attaches directly to the patient's head. This eliminates the need for rigid head fixation, thus enabling the use of neuronavigation for ventricular access procedures. The ability to leverage the benefits of neuronavigation for delicate pediatric procedures now becomes a reality.

Together, Medtronic Navigation and Medtronic Neurologic Technologies provide a full range of complementary solutions for ventricular access surgery, furthering the standard of care for effective cerebrospinal fluid management.

For more information about Medtronic's cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) management procedure solutions, please contact us.