Harper University Hospital brings medical breakthrough to Michigan

(Detroit, MI)Harper University Hospital continues to raise the bar for advanced neurosurgical services in Michigan. Harper University Hospital introduces the Polestar N-20 Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (iMRI) system to Michigan.

This technology is the first in the state to allow surgeons to monitor the progress during brain surgery on a real-time basis. Conventional brain surgery relies upon images that are obtained prior to surgery and sent to the computer system inside the operating room.

Once surgery begins, this information becomes “old” as the normal brain and the tumor area change throughout the operation. The iMRI technology allows surgeons to image the brain during surgery and continuously upgrade information as to how much of the abnormality is left and where the problem persists, so surgery can continue based on minute-to-minute information.

This ability to gather new data in a real time allows the surgeons to navigate their way through abnormal brain and tumor areas without damaging healthy brain tissue. This technology can be used in the treatment of tumors, congenital disorders, epilepsy, infections, movement disorders and vascular malformations. The surgeon will know when safe margins are reached and whether there is any tumor left and if it can be safely removed.

The iMRI machine is used in the operating room next to the operating table. After the abnormality is identified, the physician guides the iMRI’s twin magnets into place and the images are obtained. The surgeon repeats the iMRI throughout surgery and continues surgery based on the new images.

Theses images guide the surgeon when to proceed and when to stop, where the problem still persists and where the tumor is completely removed. The safe boundaries are seen on the iMRI in real time, taking guesswork out of the picture.

“This project was only possible because of the collaboration between Harper University Hospital, the Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University and the Michigan Life Science Corridor. This system increases the research capacity for Wayne State University and the state of Michigan,” explains Dr. Murali Guthikonda, chief of neurosurgery at Harper University Hospital. “Drs. Andrew Sloan and Lucia Zamorano are members of our team who were pivotal in seeing this project through from start to finish along with major philanthropic support from friends of Detroit Medical Center.”

Harper University Hospital is the region’s specialty hospital for treatment of minor to the toughest cases in neurology, neurosurgery, organ transplants, bariatric surgery and complicated surgeries. Physicians from across the country refer their patients to Harper University Hospital because it offers their patients Exceptional Doctors. Exceptional Care.

For an appointment or more information, call 888-HRC-2588