Navigating spinal surgery has long been tangled in complex, time-consuming methods that, frankly, needed a serious overhaul. These antiquated approaches often involve extensive pre-operative planning, cumbersome instrumentation, and a heavy reliance on radiation-based imaging techniques. The quest for a transformative change in this landscape led to the genesis of PathKeeper, a pioneering system transforming surgical navigation in the spinal domain.

PathKeeper takes a different approach to traditional methods that involve a complex process of affixing a reference array to the patient's anatomy and conducting a time-consuming 3D scan, resulting in a single static anatomical map with substantial radiation exposure equivalent to multiple X-ray images.

PathKeeper’s CEO, Erez Lampert, with a background in revolutionizing dentistry through 3D camera technology at Invisalign, was introduced to a spine surgeon who expressed the need for an improved standard of care in spinal surgeries. The idea for PathKeeper didn't arise solely from engineers seeking incremental improvement to their existing technology but rather from surgeons seeking a transformative solution to challenges they faced daily.

“As a spine surgeon doing complex reconstructions for 30 years, I have absorbed substantial radiation,” says Gil Tepper, MD. “Pathkeeper’s virtual elimination of radiation to the surgical team during surgery is precious and dear to my heart as I had a challenging endocrine tumor removed seven years ago.” He added, “Young surgeons must pay attention to intra-operative radiation exposure to maintain a higher likelihood of a tumor-free career.”

Using high-resolution 3D optical cameras, PathKeeper redefines surgical navigation in spinal surgery, eliminating the need for radiation-heavy machinery and ensuring a radiation-free surgical procedure. Their state-of-the-art camera enables real-time imaging and registration, allowing surgeons to rapidly conduct multiple scans during surgery. Because the images are taken in real-time, the surgical team is equipped with continuously updated information, augmenting their ability to swiftly adapt to any anatomical changes occurring during the procedure.

As a leading expert in spinal disorders and advanced surgical techniques, Dr. Babak Barcohana, MD, recognizes the groundbreaking contribution of PathKeeper. He states, "PathKeeper's radiation-free and cost-effective solution is bringing needed innovation into the spinal navigation field, changing how we approach surgical treatments for spinal disorders. The use of their technology, coupled with minimally invasive techniques, is ushering in a new era of precision and safety in spinal care."

Integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) within PathKeeper represents a significant leap forward in surgical innovation. Initially, the focus of AI implementation was on educating the system to understand the complexities of the spine. This involved teaching the computer to recognize spinal structures in CT scans, distinguishing bones, vertebrae, and specific areas within vertebrae. This foundational knowledge paved the way for two primary applications within PathKeeper's system.

Firstly, pre-surgery planning involves an AI-powered platform that collaborates with surgeons to design detailed surgical plans. Surgeons can utilize this platform to strategize the placement of screws, assess radiological parameters, and make informed decisions before entering the operating room. The system's semi-automatic capabilities, coupled with the understanding of spinal structures, assist in generating detailed plans and offer surgeons insights that aid in refining future predictive models.

During surgery, the integration of the 3D camera with AI transforms the process by tracking the surgeon's actions in real-time. The camera monitors incisions, screw placements, and surgical maneuvers, generating data that is immediately fed into the system's database for analysis. This information loop provides real-time feedback to the surgeon, enabling them to execute more accurate procedures.

This data isn't just valuable during the surgery; it's recorded so surgeons can review their procedures, compare them against the pre-surgery plan, analyze their performance, learn from their actions, and share insights with colleagues or mentors. This retrospective analysis empowers continuous improvement, facilitating a learning cycle that benefits individual surgeons and the surgical community as a whole.

"AI in healthcare is like digital surgery, enabling the precise measurement and analysis during procedures. This critical step forms the foundation for a comprehensive database that empowers surgeons, insurers, and implant companies to enhance understanding and drive better outcomes," says Lampert. "Harnessing AI's capabilities in surgery generates a wealth of knowledge. This evolving database not only aids in recognizing failures but also paves the way for tailored approaches, ensuring improved results for patients, surgeons, insurers, and healthcare systems."

PathKeeper's innovation doesn't stop at its current 3D optical camera technology; the team is wrapping up development on a next-generation camera that will be small enough to be used in minimally invasive surgery, collecting the same high-quality data as its first version. This advancement aims to enhance flexibility and versatility, making the system more adaptable while maintaining the same high level of imaging quality.

Notably, PathKeeper's strides have been acknowledged and supported by the Horizon 2020 Grant from the European Union, among others, signifying the groundbreaking potential of their research and technology. The company also obtained FDA approval by consistently demonstrating accuracy levels far surpassing industry standards, proving its capability to deliver highly accurate and stable performance under different conditions.

PathKeeper's widespread adoption across numerous hospitals in the United States showcases its instrumental role in facilitating many highly successful surgical procedures. These real-life cases show that PathKeeper isn't just a concept but a proven and effective technology, making a positive impact in clinical settings, and is set to bring a significant change to the field of spinal surgery. For more information, visit www.path-keeper.com.