Excelsius robotic spine surgery system at work in 20 hospitals

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The Excelsius ecosystem combines a number of technologies from Globus Medical to perform spine surgeries. | Source: Globus Medical

Globus Medical’s Excelsius Ecosystem has recently been implemented at Englewood Health in New Jersey, making it the twentieth hospital in the U.S. to use the system, and the first in New Jersey. The robotic ecosystem aims to improve the accuracy of spinal surgeries. 

The Excelsius Ecosystem is a robotic imaging and navigation platform that combines Globus Medical’s Excelsius 3D imaging system and the ExcelsiusGPS robotic navigation platform. 

Typically, spine surgeries are performed either percutaneously, with a minimally invasive procedure, or open. Either procedure requires several types of imaging equipment. The Exelsius Ecosystem eliminates the need for that equipment and instead gives surgeons an all-in-one imaging capability. 

“This technology takes us to the next era of spine surgery,” Kevin Yao, MD, chief of neurosurgery at Englewood Health, said. “It facilitates more precise and more minimally invasive spine surgery, which will translate into shorter patient recoveries and better outcomes.”

Surgeons at Englewood Health will use the system for spinal procedures, such as lumbar or thoracic fusion. These procedures can help patients with degenerative disc disease, fractures, scoliosis, spinal stenosis and spinal tumors. The system is expected to be used for other spine procedures in the future. 

Spinal procedures require a high degree of accuracy and precision, particularly when placing surgical hardware used to hold vertebrae. ExcelsiusGPS generates information in real-time before and during procedures. This information allows surgeons to use robotic navigation to precisely place screws and rods anywhere from the cevial to the sacroiliac spinal regions. 

The system uses a robotic arm and ExcelsiusGPS navigation capabilities to perform surgeries. On the day of surgery, radiology images are taken and imported into the Excelsius equipment, which the system uses to determine the size and placement of implants and creates a surgical plan for the patient. 

The surgeon uses the plan created by the system to guide the robotic arm to a specific part of the spine and follow the predetermined path, like following a GPS. Surgeons can view live images during the procedure to be sure the robotic arm is following the path. The surgeon then accurately places the implants with surgical instruments. 

“Robot-assisted navigation can also help increase predictability of outcomes,” Asit K. Shah, MD, PhD, chief of orthopedic surgery at Englewood Health, said. “It is like a GPS for the spine, which gives surgeons a very precise way to choose exactly where to place surgical hardware, such as metal screws.”

With 3D imaging, the surgeon knows before the patient leaves the operating room whether or not the implants are accurately placed. 

Globus Medical was founded in 2003, and is focused on advancing surgery with its technological solutions. Globus Medical is known for its musculoskeletal solutions.