Intramedullary nailing is a common treatment for long bone fractures, facilitating effective healing by stabilizing the bone through an intramedullary nail. However, one of the greatest challenges in this procedure is the precise locking of distal screws. Traditionally, this process relies on dynamic X-ray fluoroscopy or specialized guides, which not only expose patients and medical staff to radiation but also risk prolonging surgery and causing bone damage.
To address these issues, Dr. William Chu, Chief of the Department at CHENG HSIN GENERAL HOSPITAL, and his team have developed an innovative augmented reality (AR) surgical navigation system specifically designed for distal screw hole positioning in intramedullary nailing. This breakthrough significantly enhances surgical precision and safety.
iMET Technology: Enhancing Surgical Precision, Safety, and Efficiency
This pioneering system, named iMET (Intra-Medullary Endo-Transilluminating Device), integrates advanced light source technology with a mixed reality head-mounted device to enable precise screw hole localization without the need for conventional X-ray imaging. Compared to traditional X-ray-assisted techniques, iMET offers a radiation-free, non-invasive visual guide, illuminating the bone marrow cavity with high accuracy. Utilizing long-wavelength light sources, the system effectively penetrates bone and soft tissue to precisely identify and locate screw holes.
When surgeons wear the mixed reality headset, they receive real-time, intuitive visual information about the intramedullary nail’s position, greatly improving accuracy. Clinical trials have demonstrated that iMET reduces the time required for distal screw positioning from 30 minutes to under five minutes, significantly improving surgical efficiency while minimizing anesthesia duration and surgical risks. More importantly, iMET eliminates radiation exposure, offering a safer alternative for both patients and medical professionals, especially those requiring multiple orthopedic surgeries over time.
Preliminary data indicates that iMET effectively reduces positioning errors, lowering the moderate failure rate from 53% to zero, while completely eliminating bone damage caused by repeated drilling attempts.
Another key advantage of iMET is its usability and cost-effectiveness. The system is designed as a single-use medical device, reducing the need for extensive sterilization and lowering the risk of hospital-acquired infections. Additionally, it minimizes maintenance costs for healthcare facilities, optimizing medical resources and operational efficiency.
Pioneering Medical Innovation: Dr. William Chu’s Vision for the Future
Dr. William Chu emphasized that the success of iMET represents a major breakthrough in medical technology, addressing key challenges in traditional surgical methods, including excessive radiation exposure, positioning errors, and prolonged surgery times. He highlighted that this innovation provides surgeons with a more intuitive and safer surgical platform, improving precision while protecting medical staff and patients from unnecessary radiation.
Looking ahead, CHENG HSIN GENERAL HOSPITAL plans to further advance the iMET technology by enhancing its intelligence capabilities and expanding its application to a broader range of surgical procedures. The hospital is also accelerating collaborations with medical device companies to bring this cutting-edge technology to both domestic and international markets, contributing to the global advancement of surgical techniques.
Resource: 特殊光源技術搭配擴增實境 5分鐘定位螺孔治骨折
