By Andrea Pettes
 
November 18, 2008
 
MEDFORD, Ore. -- A state-of-the-art system that gives surgeons real time pictures during surgery is now in use at the Rogue Valley Medical Center.
 
The O-armTM gives surgeons 2-D and 3-D imaging while a patient is lying on the operating table. It allows them to place surgical pins and screws in exact alignment and location. RVMC is the only hospital between Seattle and San Francisco that has the system.
 
"It's improving our real time guidance and placement of instrumentation at time of survey, they all work together," says Neurosurgeon Dr. Miroslav Bobek.
 
The O-arm also making surgery much easier for patients.
 
"It's going to increase safety of the surgery, improve patient outcomes, decrease operative times, and get people back to their lives sooner," says Bobek.
 
The O-arm was initially designed for spinal and orthopedic procedures, but surgeons say they are running into many other areas where O-arm can be used.