Surgeon performing surgery with Brainlab technology - Key visual for Brainlab Surgery

Surgery OverviewDigital patient
model transforms
surgical treatments

The Brainlab digital patient model links the analog and the digital world, enabling better medical decision-making for the benefit of the patient

In digital medicine, surgery remains the most analog discipline. As a result, it comes with the challenge of making the data from surgical procedures digitally processable. For this reason, Brainlab develops technologies that connect the digital and the physical worlds through a digital patient model. Our approach is to improve this patient model in the digital space and thus improve treatments in the analog world.

Dynamic patient model is informed by
a wide variety of data sources

Brainlab is a leader in developing accurate digital patient models, having created ours over decades by connecting different sources of data – computed tomography, angiography, magnetic resonance imaging – to today and beyond. Creating this dynamic model is our current challenge as it’s crucial for linking the digital and physical world – any change in either world requires new mapping.

With this dynamic model, Brainlab is an absolute pioneer. The model adapts precisely to anatomical changes, taking biomechanical properties and physical factors into account. In the future, patient models will be further refined with statistical data and especially with ultrasound data and surface information from microscopy.

Intelligent navigation supports clinicians with surgical decision-making

Navigation is fundamental to surgery, and Brainlab enhances it with various tracking technologies to create a connection between the digital and physical worlds. Our approach is to make this connection more precise and intelligent, which means constantly providing doctors with the exact and most relevant data to make their surgical decisions. This data is the basis for providing all future patients with better treatments.

In the future, with the help of artificial intelligence, Brainlab will be able to establish a connection between video data and the digital patient model. Through video, the software will automatically recognize what doctors are doing or planning from the context of the treatment and, therefore, the need to directly input information into or interact with the surgical navigation system will drastically decrease.

Objective: Wider usability and sustainability through software and open systems

Our goal is to create an intelligent patient model that adapts to changing circumstances in almost real-time. For the benefit of patients and doctors worldwide, we want to spread this technology through virtualization.

The essential principles of our work at Brainlab are open interfaces and interoperability. We firmly believe that the entire healthcare industry benefits when software is non-proprietary. This is the only way to take full advantage of the scalability and diverse possibilities software has to offer. In terms of sustainability, open systems are more cost-effective, which is particularly relevant for a market in which high costs prevail.

Brainlab began its work in neurosurgery more than 30 years ago, and we are currently planning to further expand into more specialties to make our patient model even more dynamic. In the meantime, neurosurgery, spinal surgery and certain areas of orthopedics and ENT surgery form the core of our surgical product range.

More information about
Brainlab surgery products:

Photo showcasing Brainlab's platform portfolio

Platforms

Brainlab develops surgical platforms for a wide variety of clinical needs. Connected by a standard, newly developed operating system, these state-of-the-art platforms provide direct access to all current software functionalities and enable automated and simple data synchronization.
Image showcasing Brainlab's Neurosurgery Product Portfolio

Neurosurgery

Over 30 years ago, Brainlab introduced its first neurosurgery software to the market. In the years following, the company successfully launched numerous technological innovations that are now considered standard of care. Working closely with countless customers worldwide, Brainlab has driven constant innovations in neurosurgery with deep integration of surgical microscopes, augmented and mixed reality, surgical robotics, elastic fusion of various imaging modalities, electromagnetic tracking and software-guided frameless alignment systems.

Digital Spine Surgery

In navigating complex spine surgery cases, Brainlab places emphasis on software innovation, independent of developments in spinal implants. This focus on core competencies results in powerful, optimized navigation and visualization technology that supports surgeons in planning and performing spinal procedures and more precisely placing pedicle screws.
Illustration showcasing Brainlab's Orthopedic Surgery Products

Orthopedic Surgery

Brainlab offers numerous solutions for orthopedic surgery, from preoperative planning to intraoperative imaging to postoperative evaluation. Our focus is on precision and reproducibility so that doctors are free to plan and perform their procedures more effectively and patients can benefit from surgical accuracy and quick recovery times.
Visualization depicting Digital CMF Surgery tools by Brainlab

Digital Craniomaxillofacial Surgery

Our digital CMF surgery suite includes digital technologies and software for complex facial reconstructions and tumor resections that support the patient workflow. Every surgical step, from planning and viewing the plan in mixed reality to navigation and intraoperative imaging, aims to improve efficiency and surgical outcome accuracy.
ent_surgery.jpg

ENT Surgery

Brainlab offers ear, nose and throat surgeons innovative and powerful surgical navigation systems that are equipped with the most modern image functions and visualization options for these complex interventions. Our intuitive user interfaces, automated workflows and advanced imaging techniques are the backbone of our ENT image-guided surgery.

Functional Neurosurgery

The Brainlab Functional Neurosurgery portfolio is comprised of a range of state-of-the-art software and advanced research-grade tools that facilitate precise, customizable preoperative planning as well as efficiency during and after procedures. These solutions are easy to partially or fully integrate into existing workflows and operating rooms. When used together, they have the potential to establish a standardized, seamless, future-proof workflow that can save time and enhance treatment outcomes for patients.
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Ultrasound

To ensure accuracy, neurosurgeons should ideally work with the most up-to-date anatomical images during surgery. Especially after dura opening and particularly during tumor resection, brain shift or registration inaccuracies can cause discrepancies between navigated preoperative MRI or CT data and actual patient anatomy. Intraoperative images acquired with Ultrasound Navigation solve this problem in a faster and more cost-effective way than other intraoperative imaging solutions to help neurosurgeons achieve their goal of maximum safe resection.

Digital patient model as common ground for the Brainlab product portfolio

Comprehensively understanding and mapping the timing and workflow of surgery is the next dimension in surgical navigation. Based on the digital model of the patient, Brainlab is developing a digital model of the surgical process. This model represents the transition to our Digital O.R. portfolio. Due to significant investment in technology, Brainlab is in an excellent position and has built synergies that will interweave the field of surgery with many digital operating room activities. Data generated from surgery also opens up possibilities for better treatments in the field of radiation therapy.

Teaser image: Brainlab company Snke OS®

Snke OS

The aim of Brainlab company Snke OS®, which deals with the business infrastructure and algorithms involved in the field of AI, is to make the extensive knowledge of Brainlab in the field of digital patient models accessible to other players in the healthcare sector through a platform.
Image of surgery illustrating Dr. Langer Medical, a Brainlab company

Dr. Langer

Dr. Langer Medical, a Brainlab company, specializes in the development of intraoperative neuromonitoring solutions and the accompanying accessories for surgical interventions. Brainlab and Dr. Langer Medical are working together to create synergies for the digital surgery ecosystem. By combining respective technologies, end-to-end workflows can be developed for neurosurgery, spine surgery, visceral and other surgical disciplines.
Green waves on a black background, illustrating the technology of Brainlab's Mint Medical

Mint Medical

At Brainlab, when we generate data from surgical workflows, it must be stored in an environment that complies with our European values of data privacy: non-discriminatory, safe and self-determined. We are creating the basis for this with the technology of Brainlab company Mint Medical. Our approach is to help unleash the full benefits of medical data for broad clinical research and industrial use by sharing data with other players in the healthcare industry.