by
Lauren Dubinsky, Senior Reporter | September 17, 2024
Physicians during aneurysm repair intervention using Philips' LumiGuide
Royal Philips announced today that the 160 cm version of its LumiGuide endovascular navigation wire has scored approval from the FDA. This guidewire utilizes the company's Fiber Optic RealShape (FORS) technology.
“What sets LumiGuide apart [from other guidewires] is its ability to minimize or even eliminate the need for fluoroscopy, significantly reducing radiation exposure for both patients and healthcare providers — a key concern in minimally invasive procedures," Dr. Atul Gupta, chief medical officer for diagnosis and treatment at Philips, told HCB News.
He added that LumiGuide leverages advanced optical technology to act like a 3D human GPS system, which allows it to provide real-time navigation through blood vessels without the need for continuous X-ray imaging. That enables safer and faster procedures, ultimately broadening access to minimally invasive treatments.
Fluoroscopy is usually required for these minimally invasive surgeries to help doctors manipulate catheters inside the body, but that only provides grayscale, 2D images and comes with the risk of radiation exposure. LumiGuide with the FORS technology allows the doctors to see the guidewires and catheters in 3D and color, from any angle in real time, and with minimal radiation.
According to Philips, complex cases including aortic repair procedures can be done 37% faster and require 70% less X-ray imaging with the FORS technology.
The 160 cm LumiGuide guidewire is an upgrade of the Philips' existing 120 cm guidewire. This longer version will allow doctors to perform 3D device guidance with more catheters, meaning they will be able to use this technology for more patients and procedures.
It integrates with the company's Azurion Image-Guided Therapy System so that it can be used alongside preoperative cross-sectional imaging.
Dr. Carlos Timaran, an internationally recognized expert in advanced endovascular techniques, recently became the first to use the new LumiGuide guidewire to perform a complex aortic repair procedure and has since reported that his patient is doing well. This marked the 1,000th patient treated with the FORS technology since its first clinical use in 2020.
Philips' Gupta said that although innovations like LumiGuide are helping to drive the industry toward radiation-free surgeries, complex cases will still benefit from combining multiple imaging methods, including fluoroscopy, for a comprehensive view.
"Technologies that reduce radiation exposure, such as optical guidewires and augmented reality, are definitely the future," he added. "They will greatly reduce fluoroscopy use in routine cases, leading to safer, faster, and more efficient procedures, ultimately advancing patient care while maintaining flexibility for more challenging scenarios.”
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