Near-IR Imaging Refines Robotic Surgery

A near-infrared fluorescence imaging guided system designed for the da Vinci Si Surgical System was tested this week by the NYU Langone Medical Center, which completed its first surgery this month using the system. The imaging technique provided a greatly enhanced visual field, allowing finer assessment and more precise operations.

NYU Langone reported that it is the first institution to use the enhanced imaging guidance system for selective arterial clamping during surgery for patients with kidney cancer and that it is among a small group of hospitals in the country to have this technology.

The specially designed camera and endoscopes allow surgeons to capture images of tissue and surrounding blood vessels by injecting a fluorescence dye that is activated by near-IR light.

"Fluorescence imaging combined with the new 3-D HD camera scopes gives us clear anatomical landmarks to better map the patient’s vascular anatomy — it’s changing the way we perform surgery,” said Michael Stifelman of the institution’s Robotic Surgery Center. "We can now perform complex kidney surgery in a more sparing manner using a minimally invasive approach. The imagery is so precise, we can temporarily stop blood flow to only the part of the kidney needing dissection, allowing the rest of the kidney to remain perfused, which prevents potential damage to the healthy tissue."

The new technique incorporates a redesigned 3-D high-definition camera that is mounted on one of the four arms of the da Vinci Si surgical robot. The camera can switch modes to provide either standard real-time images of the surgical field, or images of tissue and surrounding blood vessels illuminated by the special dye when it is exposed to a near-IR light.

For more information, visit: www.nyumc.org