Infant is First to Undergo Minimally Invasive Craniofacial and Neurosurgery Procedure With Viking Systems, Inc.'s 3-D Surgical Vision System

SAN DIEGO, May 24 /PRNewswire/ -- "Baby and family are doing just fine," according to Dr. Steven R. Cohen in an update on the condition of baby Jake Joye. In January, at just 3-1/2 months old, baby Jake became the first patient to undergo a revolutionary surgical procedure at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego. Cohen, Rady's Chief of Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery, along with Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Hal Meltzer, M.D., used the Viking 3Di Vision System to perform the delicate procedure on the infant to correct a condition known as craniosynostosis. The condition occurs at birth when the open areas that separate the bone plates in the skull become fused. Craniosynostosis can result in abnormal skull growth, changing the shape of the skull and leading to vision problems, developmental delays and brain damage.

This new version of the procedure performed with Viking's 3Di Vision System requires just a small incision in the patient's scalp as opposed to the usual ear-to-ear incision made across the top of the head. The 3Di endoscope is then inserted into the incision, delivering a magnified, high-resolution, 3D image that allows the surgeons to visualize the underlying anatomy. The live images are viewed by the surgeons via Viking's ViView Personal Monitor. The monitor, which resembles the visor worn in virtual reality video games, places the images directly before the surgeon's eyes.

Compared to standard 2D visualization tools, the Viking System provides a more natural, clearer view similar to one obtained in conventional open procedures. Dr. Meltzer emphasized the importance of the high- resolution image provided by the Viking System in baby Jake's case. "We needed to visualize the area under the skull bones to be certain there was no leakage of brain fluid or any abnormal bleeding from the brain," he said. "We had to see that area absolutely perfectly."

"Since the images are delivered within the surgeon's natural line of sight, an immersive surgical environment is created," says Stephen M. Heniges, Viking Systems' Senior Vice-President of Global Marketing & Clinical Development. "The ViView Monitor allows the surgeon to focus directly on the surgical field and helps to reduce the fatigue associated with turning or moving to view a standard monitor."

3D vision also allows spatial relationships to be maintained, so the surgeon's hand-to-eye coordination is not sacrificed. This can help surgeons perform more confidently and naturally aiding in the reduction of procedure times.

"There is less bleeding so our need for transfusions is markedly decreased," noted Dr. Cohen, pointing out the benefits of the procedure in terms of recovery. "These children go to a regular room, they don't go to an intensive care unit, and they are out of the hospital in a day, in most cases."

For Viking Systems, the case marks both a technical and a human success story. "We are gratified that our technology is playing a role in cases such as this and is helping healthcare professionals positively affect the lives of patients and families," said Heniges. "We wish baby Jake Joye and his family ongoing health and happiness." The Viking 3Di Vision System can be used in any laparoscopic MIS procedure to deliver high-quality, live 3D images to the surgical team. Through the 3Di Vision System, the surgical team can also have access to Viking's Infomatix(R) System which provides on-demand access to other clinical images and relevant, real-time patient and procedural information directly into the surgeon's field-of-view.

About Viking Systems, Inc.

Viking Systems, Inc. provides high performance 3D Laparoscopic Vision Systems to hospitals for minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Viking is leveraging that position to become a market leader in bringing integrated solutions to the digital surgical environment. Our focus is to deliver integrated information, visualization, and control solutions to the surgical team, enhancing their capability and performance in MIS and complex surgical procedures. Viking Systems is headquartered in La Jolla, CA. For more information, please visit the company's website at http://www.VikingSystems.com

CONTACT: Media, Dave Rector, +1-201-406-9471, DaveR@MRCMedical.net, forViking Systems; or product related inquiries, Stephen M. Heniges of VikingSystems, +1-858-431-4102, SHeniges@VikingSystems.com

Web site: http://www.VikingSystems.com/