Mazor Robotics Finally Launches Brain Module for Renaissance Guidance Device

Mazor Robotics has officially launched its Renaissance surgical guidance system brain module.

The rollout came during the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) annual meeting held this week (April 5-9) in San Francisco, Calif.

The Renaissance system is cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) spine and brain surgery. The technology, which originally designed for use in spine surgeries (FDA cleared in 2011), is applicable in brain procedures including biopsies, shunt placements and neurostimulation electrode placement for deep brain stimulation. The FDA cleared the brain application in 2012.

According to company officials, the Renaissance brain module uses a small, frameless platform with only three points of fixation to provide highly accurate access to the areas of the brain where intervention is needed. This helps to minimize incisions and scarring while providing surgeons with a full 360-degree working volume to change trajectories.

Bradley Wallace, M.D., of Baptist Medical Center in Jacksonville, Fla. performed the first bilateral procedure with Renaissance in December of last year.

“With the Renaissance system, we’ve preplanned those trajectories and it’s simply a matter of pushing a button and redirecting the guidance unit to the new trajectories,” Wallace said. “There is also a patient comfort component: the patient is awake for a portion of the surgery, so not being fixed to the bed and being able to move a little bit is an advantage.”

“We are very happy to see the benefits that Renaissance Brain Surgery is bringing to neurosurgeons and their patients,” said Mazor Robotics CEO Ori Hadomi. “After years of development, we are excited to introduce our technology to the brain surgery market and continue our efforts in this new arena.”

To date, the Renaissance Guidance System has been used to place more than 45,000 spine implants worldwide, the company claims.

The company is headquartered in Israel. U.S. headquarters is in Orlando, Fla.