Abrazo West Campus acquires Arizona’s 1st Loop-X robot to assist spine surgeries

PHOENIX — Abrazo West Campus acquired the new Loop-X robot to assist in spine surgery operating rooms, the hospital announced on Tuesday.

The mobile, circular imaging platform will provide surgeons 2D and 3D images of a patient’s anatomy, according to a press release. It can move around the patient in positions to supply live x-rays of anatomic structures such as soft tissue.

The x-ray beam is projected in a cone shape to avoid radiation to surrounding tissue.

The robot by medical technology company Brainlab is the first in Arizona and ninth in the United States. Brainlab has a demonstration of the device on its website.

“We are excited to be the first hospital in Arizona with this advanced system and privileged to be among the first 10 installations in the country,” CEO of Abrazo West Campus Hans Driessnack said in the release.

“This investment in our high-acuity and complex surgical capabilities will allow the Abrazo West spine program to deliver advanced technology to patients right here in the West Valley.”

The technology will aid with posterior cervical, thoracic, lumbar fusion, sacroiliac joint, joint fusion, lumbar interbody fusion and scoliosis deformity correction operations.

“The system works in sync with other devices in the OR, moving with the procedure and on the surgeon’s command, enhancing the surgical experience,” Abrazo spine surgeon Doctor Brian Vernon said in the release.

“The device robotically aligns to the most critical patient anatomy, so patients do not have to be moved to be scanned with Loop-X. In addition, independently moving imaging source and detector panels help reduce the amount of radiation exposure.”

Abrazo West Campus officials said they expect the Loop-X to begin operating by November.