Innovative Surgical Planning Software Links Surgeons and Vendors

The ProPlanner contains automated features such as semi-automatic calibration, user-defined measurements, and image stitching for procedures such as total knee replacement, where it is not possible to capture all anatomy in a single image. The automatic image stitching enables users to connect multiple images, visualize them as one, and perform measurements on them. Another feature is hip planning for common measurements in hip templating. Once a hip implant family and operative side are selected, the ProPlanner automatically overlays a suggested implant size and position on the image. Users can accept, reject or revise automatic planning recommendations. A reporting feature automatically populates reports with key images, measurements, templates, implants, and patient demographics. Users have the option to add technical notes to the report.

A wide range of productivity tools include an autoplan feature that saves sets of combined templates to further streamline auto templating; a favorites list that provides a shortcut for fast template access to frequently used implants; and a study list filters feature that quickly sorts through patient studies by anatomy, date, patient name, or other user defined criteria. Advanced measurements and tools include line/angle ratios and differences, Cobb angles, parallel/perpendicular lines, midline determination, and others.

One click magnification correction is available using a calibration sphere. The ProPlanner can integrate it into existing PACS solutions, run it as a standalone workstation, or be added to a computed radiography (CR) and digital radiography (DR) modality. The web-enabled Cedara ProPlanner is a product of Merge Healthcare (Milwaukee, WI, USA).

"For the past 20 years, Merge has created valued solutions used in the Orthopedic community, and we are pleased to release our latest innovation in this clinical area,” said Justin Dearborn, CEO of Merge Healthcare. "Cedara ProPlanner offers the newest planning tools to the industry and provides our OEM partners with a valuable alternative to the traditional packages currently in the marketplace.”

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Merge Healthcare