The Problem: C-arm and Fluoroscopy
- Radiation
C-arm emits ionizing X-ray radiation and endangers the medical crew. To reduce risks medical crew must wear personal protection lead equipment, including lead aprons, lead thyroid collar protector, and sometimes lead gloves and lead-glass eye glasses. With all these protector medical crew still have higher occurrence of cancer and cataract then general population. - Time waste
Operating the machine requires a coordination between the surgeon and the technologist. Setting the machine to a new position or execution of simple actions like storing of images take time, and obstruct the workflow. The time spent for the operation of the C-arm may amount to several minutes or 10% of the surgery duration.
- Large Free Space
An efficient operation of a C-arm requires about 12′ X 12′ free space, even more to allow the crew some elbow space. More room is required at passages and storage areas.
- Extra personnel
Technologist, a dedicated crew member is required to operate a machine entailing difficult coordination, protection gear, and crowded OR.
The Solution: New I-arm
- Radiation
I-arm lowers radiation ten times (reduction of 90%) for both radiography and fluoroscopy. This frees the surgical team from most protective gear, and dramatically reduces the risk to their health. - Free Room
I-arm has a footprint of single stand-trolley, saving the huge areas taken by C-arm for storing, moving and operating, thus saving up to 50% of required operation room free space. - Time Saving
I-arm is smaller, the generator and the detector are at the same side of the patient, leaving the arena free of obstacles, enabling the surgeons to make precise motions, and nurses to efficiently support the surgeons. The machine can be easily placed at position by the surgeon facilitating workflow and saving about 10% of surgery time. - Personnel
I-arm is light and compact, and can be operated by the surgeon with little effort. Thus, technologist is not required through the procedure. One less person in the OR entails less crowded operation, less risks, less costs, and smoother workflow. - Resolution
I-arm can work at wide-field mode for normal procedures. In addition it can focus on specific areas of interest, providing images with spatial resolution at the micrometer level.
Technology and Innovation:
Hemico innovation is based on several recent scientific discoveries and the maturation of several technologies, of which Hemico’s founders are leading pioneers.
- The quantum techniques of Ghost Imaging, lately applied to X-ray measurements enables one-sided system, and the application of the Condensed Sensing methodology.
- Condensed Sensing, in turn, enables a-priori determination of a set of vector basis that reduces radiation by limiting the number of exposure during Ghost Imaging.
- Machine Learning optimized system by facilitating the selection of optimal set of measurement vectors, that further reduces radiation exposure based on specific medical procedure.
- Patent granted, another in preparation.
The Team
Founders
Dr. Yehuda Albeck Founder, CEO: Yuda is a physicist, a veteran technologist and business manager, has previously developed innovative medical and defense technologies.
Prof. Sharon Shwartz – CSO – Sharon is a world class experimenter in novel X-ray-based sensing techniques, and a pioneer in the field of X-ray ghost imaging.
Dr. Eliahu Cohen– Founder, CTO Eli is a theoretical physicist exploring measurement theory and optical sensing, leading the algorithmic development at Hemico Imaging.
Advisory Board:
Prof. Ran Schwartzkopf – Ran is continuing research in the specialized scientific area of Orthopaedics and Orthopedic Surgery, he is serving as an honorary reviewer for Orthopedics and Muscular System: Current Research and other reputed journals and has authored hundreds of articles along with chapters in different books related to Orthopaedics and Orthopedic Surgery.
Prof. Kenneth Egol – Kenneth is the Professor and Vice Chairman of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital (LOH). Kenneth is an internationally recognized expert in fracture surgery; he established the LOH Fracture Research Group and has helped design a proximal humerus fracture plating system for the treatment of shoulder fractures.
Contact info:
Dr. Yehuda Albeck
+972- 52-577 3500
POB 1252, Nazareth, 1711102, Israel