San Ramon Regional Medical Center Purchases Robotic Platform for Minimally-Invasive Spine Surgery

San Ramon Regional Medical Center continues to be a leader in the field of robotics, becoming the first hospital in the Bay Area to purchase the ExcelsiusGPS® system to offer robotic-assisted spine surgery. This technology is designed to improve safety and accuracy of spine surgical procedures within the operating room.

The ExcelsiusGPS® combines a rigid robotic arm and full navigation capabilities into one adaptable platform for accurate trajectory alignment in spine surgery. This technology provides improved and real-time visualization of patient anatomy through the procedure to help optimize patient treatment.

“We are proud of our excellent spine surgery program and we are committed to providing the highest quality of care for our patients. We look forward to the exciting opportunities and impact this new robotic technology will bring to our operating rooms,” said Ann Lucena, CEO of San Ramon Regional Medical Center. “By adding this new, state-of-the-art technology to our suite of advanced tools, we will continue to be leaders in enhancing safety, offering minimally-invasive procedures, and optimizing care for patients.”

Minimally-invasive, robotic-assisted spine surgery allows surgeons to treat spine conditions by operating through small incisions along the spine, which may lead to smaller scars. Other patient benefits may include shorter hospital stays, less tissue damage, reduced trauma to the body and less risk of infection.

“What’s remarkable about this new robotic technology is that it simplifies more complicated surgeries for spine surgeons,” said Hieu Ball, M.D., Orthopedic Spine Surgeon at San Ramon Regional Medical Center. “We are able to see and do more along the spine than ever before. Patients undergoing spine surgery can have a whole new level of safety and peace of mind with their procedure.”

“Robotic technology not only helps improve accuracy, reproducibility and efficiency to complex spine surgery, but it also significantly reduces radiation exposure to the patient, staff and surgeon as an added safety enhancement,” Lucena added.

The ExcelsiusGPS® system can be used for any posterior fixation procedure from the cervical spine down through the sacrum. Surgeons can perform Sacroiliac Fusions, Single Position Lateral, Deformity and Degenerative corrective procedures with the help of ExcelsiusGPS®.

Last fall, San Ramon Regional Medical Center also acquired the O-arm 2D/3D imaging system and StealthStation S8 surgical navigation system to equip and assist the hospital’s spine surgeons with the most advanced tools and technology in the operating room. The O-arm, a multidimensional imaging system, provides a virtual image of the spine that shows screw placement and trajectory during the procedure. It also provides the surgeons with real-time, 3D images of the patient’s anatomy.

O-arm technology can be utilized in collaboration with the ExcelsiusGPS® robotic platform, mentioned above. Together, these two systems help surgeons perform more accurate procedures in the operating room for all spine cases.