St. Joseph’s Hospital Acquires Latest 3-D Technology in Minimally Invasive Brain Surgery

TAMPA, Fla., June 9, 2016 – After the introduction of flat panel displays and high definition cameras in the operation room, 3-D promises to be the next revolution in visual technology. Today neurosurgeons who do minimally invasive surgery (MIS) on the brain use traditional endoscopes that only allow surgeons to see the surgical field in a monocular view – "one eyed.” When you're navigating around something as delicate as the brain – not to mention removing tumors from it – depth perception provides significant value, giving the surgeon back their natural vision.

St. Joseph’s Hospital recently acquired the Visionsense VSii  3-D miniature camera system.  With the acquisition, St. Joseph’s Hospital aims to be the leader in the Tampa Bay area to deliver MIS brain surgery.

Neurosurgeon Juan Valdivia-Valdivia, M.D.,  said, “The system is very advanced.  It gives me a better understanding of the surgical scene, allowing me to do this procedure in a new way or in a much shorter time."

Patients benefit from this new technology as well.  Minimally invasive brain surgery provides less pain, no scars and a quicker recovery time.  "Patients can get back to and resume life faster," Dr. Valdivia-Valdivia added.

Visionsense's miniature camera is the only 3-D stereoscopic surgical camera in the world that provides a stereo image from a single sensor. The sensor is in a microchip at the distal end. Thus this 3-D camera is at the business end of the surgical procedure picking up the images, enabling the surgeon to see true depth perception.

“We are very pleased with this new visionary tool that will assist our surgeons in this advancement of a larger trend toward minimally invasive surgery,  which indeed benefits our patients,” said hospital President Lorraine Lutton.

About St. Joseph’s Hospital

St. Joseph’s Hospital, part of the BayCare Health System, is known for advanced medical technology and compassionate care. Its Centers of Excellence include the Heart Institute, Cancer Institute, Stroke and Neuroscience Program, Robotic Surgery Program and Emergency/Trauma Departments, which treats more patients than any other hospital in the Tampa Bay region. More than 70 specialties are represented among the medical staff, from internal medicine to cardiology, neurology to surgery.  The hospital was founded in 1934 by the Franciscan Sisters of Allegany. 

About BayCare Health System

BayCare is a leading not-for-profit health care system that connects individuals and families to a wide range of services at 14 hospitals and hundreds of other convenient locations throughout the Tampa Bay and central Florida regions. Inpatient and outpatient services include acute care, primary care, imaging, laboratory, behavioral health, home care, and wellness. Our mission is to improve the health of all we serve through community-owned, health care services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care.