SIEMENS HEALTHINEERS DEVELOPS AUTOMATED, SELF-DRIVING C-ARM SYSTEM FOR INTRAOPERATIVE IMAGING IN SURGERY

Siemens Healthineers has developed an automated, self-driving C-arm system for intraoperative imaging in surgery. Ciartic Move is equipped with holonomic, omnidirectional wheels that allow precise movements even in the smallest of spaces and allow easy and accurate positioning. Using a remote control, the system can be moved to previously stored positions with the touch of a button. This relieves the burden on technologists, who previously had to set these manually. In addition, the automated process saves valuable time as the automatic adjustments are more precise and thus can reduce imaging times.

Ciartic Move focuses on several challenges facing healthcare systems. Due to the drastic shortage of medical staff worldwide, it is not uncommon for medical interventions to have to be postponed. This leads to inefficiencies in the clinical process and is associated with longer and unplanned waiting times for patients. In surgery, minimally invasive procedures have also established themselves as the method of choice as far as possible, as they are gentler on patients. However, this increases the demands on clinical staff. Surgical teams tend to be tightly scheduled, with several of these image-guided procedures routinely performed per day. In addition, the work in the operating room is physically demanding. During procedures, the C-arm, which can weigh up to half a ton, must be repositioned repeatedly to give the surgical staff the exact anatomical views they need in real time. With conventional mobile C-arms, this repetitive manual positioning can be time-consuming and prone to error. Controlling and moving the device within the operating room (OR) and between rooms also requires a great deal of physical effort.




Ciartic Move returns to previously stored positions and settings at the touch of a button at any time during the procedure. Up to 12 process-specific 2D or 3D C-arm positions can be stored – along with the associated image parameters. The system also has an active sensing technology that offers collision protection for greater safety. Touch-sense handles on the back and detector allow for effortless, motor-assisted movements during the procedure and make it easier to steer the system within the OR as well as moving it to another room. In addition, a single person can operate the system remotely, even from the sterile area. This makes it possible for appropriately trained surgeons or surgical teams to continue working even when personnel with special expertise in intraoperative imaging are not available.