Vermont firm offers alternative to x-ray

Radiology Today, a leading trade publication for interventional radiologists, has published an article in its November 30, 2009, issue highlighting the inherent danger of using radiation-emitting devices for anatomical visualization and navigation. Ascension Technology of Burlington, Vermont, is cited as offering a magnetic imaging alternative.
The article "Alternative Guidance Systems Minimize X-Ray Exposure", by Pulitzer-prize winning writer, Steve Wagner, warns physicians that radiation can have long-term implications, such as blood-borne cancers and cataracts.
Wagner interviewed Dr. Isador Lieberman, chairman of the Medical, Interventional and Surgical Spine Center at the Cleveland Clinic, for the article. While citing the absolute need for real-time imaging, Lieberman laments the fact that multiple new x-rays are the current standard of care.
In the short term, he argues for greater education and new procedures to help protect clinicians themselves from overuse of X-ray beams. Long term, he sees emerging navigation techniques, which use alternate forms of energy, as a safe and accurate way to achieve the same results.
Wagner cites the use of magnetic navigation as an advantageous way to "track the tip of a flexible medical instrument for localization and targeting" purposes. Its three-dimensional sensors registered to real-time or pre-acquired imaging sources offer millimeter accuracy while sidestepping the radiation issue.
According to Wagner, Ascension Technology (www.asccension-tech.com), is in the forefront in magnetic sensing with the recent releases of its new 3D Guidance product line.