The integration provides real-time visualization during cranial procedures to help neurosurgeons assess anatomical changes and support surgical precision.
GE HealthCare announced a digital integration between the bkActiv intraoperative ultrasound (iUS) system and the Medtronic Stealth AXiS surgical navigation system. Now commercially available, the integration provides real-time imaging during cranial procedures to support surgical planning and navigation workflows.
The solution allows neurosurgeons to incorporate the iUS system as a “plug-and-play” visualization tool without disrupting established workflows. The surgical navigation system recently received clearance from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for cranial procedures in the US and combines planning, navigation, and robotics into a single solution.
“Real-time visualization is critical for cranial surgical teams to assess anatomy, navigate changes, and make critical decisions in the surgical suite,” says Heidi Seerden, general manager, surgical innovations, GE HealthCare, in a release.
During cranial surgery, clinicians may encounter “brain shift,” a natural movement of the brain that can reduce the accuracy of pre-surgical images. The digital integration provides live ultrasound images to the navigation system, where they can be viewed alongside pre-operative MRI or CT scans to help clinicians assess these anatomical changes.
The ultrasound system includes several features tailored for the neurosurgical suite, including an image mirror that duplicates the ultrasound image on the scanner’s glass interface so staff can see it when the clinical monitor is turned toward the surgeon. It also features color Doppler to visualize blood flow, specialized algorithms for image resolution, and fully immersible transducers for sterilization.
Additional features include a sterilizable remote control and technology that allows the surgeon to freeze, store, and print images from the transducer.
The companies plan to debut the digital integration at the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Annual Scientific Meeting in May 2026.
Photo caption: bkActive iUS
Photo credit: GE HealthCare
