Health Canada has approved the Accuro automatic spinal navigation system from Rivanna Medical LLC for epidural and related neuroaxial anesthesia guidance, according to a press release. The system will be launched in Canada in May.
The FDA-approved system, which has been used in major U.S. hospitals since 2015, increases first-attempt anesthesia needle placement, with identification of epidural space matching that of expert radiologists in nearly all cases, according to the release.
“Accurate needle placement for epidural and related spinal anesthesia is challenging because physicians are essentially working blind and making assumptions about a patient’s spinal anatomy,” Will Mauldin, Rivanna chairman and chief executive officer, said in the release. “If incorrect, repeated needle sticks often result in decreased patient satisfaction and quality scores. They also increase costs by prolonging anesthesia procedures and any operating room time involved. Moreover, serious complications due to spinal anesthesia failure cost the healthcare system more than $1.5 billion annually.”
According to Rivanna, the Accuro system provides high-quality images of bony spinal anatomy, delivering a five-fold to 10-fold increase in bone-to-tissue contrast compared to traditional ultrasound.
“A large body of research underscores the benefits of ultrasound for neuraxial anesthesia guidance,” Adam Dixon, PhD, Rivanna director of clinical research and development, said. “Now, for the first time, Rivanna Accuro makes this practical, cost-effective and safe even for expectant mothers, who cannot be exposed to the radiation involved in other imaging procedures.”
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Disclosures: Dixon and Mauldin report no relevant financial disclosures.
