Every once in a while, a company comes along with a product that sets a new precedent within an industry. In the particular case of brain surgery, there have been advancements galore over the decades. Long gone are the days of limited knowledge as state-of-the-art scanners, computers and robotics now assist in making procedures more efficient, safer and with quicker recovery times. There is still an aspect of brain surgery, however, that has not seen any significant advancements in nearly 70 years.
Ribbon or blade retractors are still the “tool of choice” for moving brain tissue during a procedure. While they have undergone minor changes in design throughout the years, retractors have a number of flaws that can only be deemed as “critical aspects” in such a sensitive surgery.
For starters, retractors only function in the manner of pushing brain tissue out of the way to reach the targeted location. It goes without saying that the brain is comprised of very delicate tissue and the high local retraction pressure distributed over limited surface area with a retractor can lead to a variety of complications. It is also important to note that retractors severely impair the doctor’s vision within the area, which makes the surgery not only more difficult, but a bit more risky.
Vycor Medical, Inc. has developed the answer to this age-old problem of retractors. The Viewsite™ Brain Access System (“VBAS”) is a proprietary design developed to eliminate the need to “pull” on brain tissues during procedures. The revolutionary circumferential elliptical design and hemispheric design limits and disperses pressures evenly so there is no need to pull in any direction whatsoever. Not only is it safer, but the VBAS is clear and includes superior binocular vision to see in and around the surgical site, unlike the archaic retractors used today. The product comes in multiple sizes and a variety of widths and lengths to meet all surgical needs. Modern technologies, such as surgical arms, have also been considered. VBAS is compatibility with most surgical arms to assist with the surgery and avoid accidental displacement or movement during surgery.
Vycor has received U.S. FDA 510(k) clearance for brain and spine surgeries, CE Marking for the European Market and Canadian HPB licensing for brain for the Viewsite™ Brain Access System. Nearly 1,000 surgeries have been carried out utilizing VBAS already as surgeons are rapidly seeing the huge benefits. The process of reaching approval for a hospital can be lengthy, but, in a short period of time, nearly 80 U.S. hospitals have approved VBAS for use or have purchased the product, with many more hospitals presently going through the approval process to evaluate the product. Approximately 50 international hospitals have either ordered or are evaluating the product as well.
Surgeons have submitted many testimonials praising VBAS. Dr. Konstantin V. Slavin stated, “At the end, I and my team of residents were pleased to discover the ease of use and unique visualization and illumination of the surgical field that they deliver. The tubular nature of the retractor allows one to rotate it and change the angle of the approach without putting extra pressure on the brain tissue that inevitably occurs when using malleable or any other ribbon-type retractors.”
Dr. Donald M. O’Rourke, Associate Professor, Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pennsylvania, commented, “The Vycor Brain Access Retractor System is a major advance in brain retraction for intracranial tumors where lesion isolation within the brain substance is top priority.”
As more surgical centers and hospitals approve the use of the VBAS, it seems that it will become the industry standard for retraction in surgeries as there is a great area of unmet need in this arena. Created by surgeons for surgeons, the novel device is simplifying surgeries for doctors and making them more safe and comfortable for the patients. Pardon the pun, but it seems like a “no brainer” that this will become of tool of choice for surgeons worldwide.
More information on Vycor Medical, the ViewSite™ Brain Access System’s capabilities and testimonials can be found on the Company’s website at www.vycormedical.com.
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