BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Lehigh Valley Health Network has received a $1 million grant to replace a piece of equipment used for spinal surgery. The Medtronic O-Arm imaging device is a portable machine that scans a patient’s spine to provide 3-D imaging.
Lehigh Valley Hospital - Muhlenberg received state funding, secured by State Sen. Pat Browne, to replace a device used in the operating room during minimally invasive spine surgery.
- Lehigh Valley Health Network received a $1 million grant to replace a piece of equipment used for spinal surgery
- The O-arm imaging device is a portable machine that scans a patient’s spine to provide 3-D imaging
- The new machine is at the Bethlehem campus and another one is already being used at the Cedar Crest campus
“One of the things about these advanced machines is they're not inexpensive,” Browne said. “We know how invested state and federal government is in the health care of our citizens and this targeted approach. We'll make sure that our citizens get the best care. "
“I think it's a good investment by the Commonwealth to give it to us because we're ready to use it and build the capacity to care for patients,” President and Chief Executive Officer of Lehigh Valley Health Network Dr. Brian Nester said.
Dr. Walter Jean is the Chief of Neurosurgery for LVHN. He said the images from the new equipment provide an accurate and anatomical picture to surgeons so they know exactly where to place screws and rods.
"It's a precision medicine, it leads to better, shorter recovery and better outcomes."Dr. Walter Jean, chief of Neurosurgery at LVHN
"That roadmap is used during surgery, kind of like GPS for driving, to guide the placement of the hardware,” he said. “So it's a precision medicine, it leads to better, shorter recovery and better outcomes."
Jean said the device is already in use and will assist patients with a wide variety of spinal injuries, from those who have been in car accidents to older adults suffering from a degenerative spinal disease.
“It gets us to offer our patients the most advanced devices available, the most precise way of doing surgery available, and really is getting to be very close to being standard of care. So we're very grateful for this piece of equipment,” Jean explained.
The new machine is at the Bethlehem location and another one is already being used at the Cedar Crest location.
