Synaptive Medical Inc., a medical device and technology company, has released Modus V. This second-generation, high-powered digital microscope with a robotic arm is derived from Canadarm technology used on the International Space Station. Designed with feedback from Synaptive’s clinical partners, Modus V is the new cornerstone of its integrated BrightMatter platform.

Modus V sets the new standard for robot-assisted neurosurgery with the most powerful optics available on the market that give unprecedented views of patient anatomy and may allow surgeons to perform less invasive procedures with more precision. For patients, less invasive procedures may lead to faster recovery times, reduced complications, and, in some cases, may render an inoperable diagnosis operable.

For surgeons, Modus V’s advanced instrument tracking with auto-focus, combined with a highly flexible arm, also allows for increased surgical efficiency through hands-free control, better ergonomics during procedures, and greater versatility in the operating room. These innovations feed developments in precision medicine by creating more opportunity to capture, analyze, and draw trends from patient data and build better decision-making tools for physicians, researchers, and hospital administrators.

“This product release marks a major milestone in our evolution as a company,” says Peter Wehrly, Synaptive’s CEO. “Modus V is an integral part of our overall BrightMatter surgical solution. Conceptualized for the digital era as a fully integrated set of devices, our solution collects and delivers data — be it imaging, tractography or other patient information — when and where it’s most needed to drive surgical decision making. It’s part of our ongoing commitment to give surgeons the most advanced tools with which to treat their patients.”

Modus V is part of the BrightMatter product suite, which transforms surgical planning, patient data collection, and intraoperative vision from disjointed analog methods to a fully integrated platform with navigation, robotic automation, digital microscopy, and data analytics.

As the successor to BrightMatter Drive, Synaptive’s first generation robotic digital microscope, Modus V’s improved design was created to meet the complex needs of cutting-edge surgery, including:

• The most powerful optics platform on the market fully integrated with the robotic arm, providing superior visualization of anatomy and allowing for better decision making when it matters most
• Enhanced hands-free tracking of surgical instruments with auto-focus and programmable motions gives surgeons more control without disrupting workflow
• Increased arm flexibility covers a larger volume of space, permitting more versatile positioning around the patient and ergonomic alignments of optics for the surgeon
• Smaller unit footprint allows for greater maneuverability in the OR and enables faster deployment

“Collaboration is hardwired into Synaptive’s culture. Modus V’s improvements are grounded in the collaboration and extensive feedback from neurosurgeons in our customer community on both Modus V prototypes and BrightMatter Drive,” says Cameron Piron, Synaptive’s president and chief strategy officer. “We’re grateful for their support, and look forward to deeper commentary from the surgical community as Modus V enters the market.”