Synaptive Medical Receives Health Canada Approval For Brightmatter Guide: A Surgical Navigation Solution
July 5, 2016 TORONTO – Synaptive Medical Inc., a company focused on global commercialization of innovative solutions, announced the approval from Health Canada to market BrightMatterTM Guide. This new technology is part of a solution for health care providers that includes informatics, imaging, surgical planning, navigation and advanced optics.
Synaptive also received approval from Health Canada for ImageDrive™ Pro earlier this year. ImageDrive is a health care informatics platform that further assists with the interoperability of Synaptive’s systems and is uniquely designed to provide transformative data insights. In May 2016, Synaptive received US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance for ImageDrive Pro.
This announcement is a significant achievement and meaningful milestone for Synaptive Medical, a company that was founded on local talent in Toronto and employs over 300 people. Since their FDA clearance of BrightMatter Guide in April 2015, they have seen tremendous growth in the United States with leading and nationally ranked neurosurgical programs. Recent customers include Inova Fairfax, Kaleida Health in Buffalo, Houston Methodist, Swedish Medical Center in Seattle, the University of Michigan, and Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Synaptive had its first international installation at The Aga Khan University Hospital in Pakistan earlier this year.
“We are honoured to be able to bring BrightMatter to patients in our home country, which has generated international recognition for developing global game-changing medical technology and impacting patient care,” said Cameron Piron, President of Synaptive Medical. “As we continue to meet the needs of our customers, we look forward to collaborative insight from leading physicians who are in our own backyard.”
In celebration of Canada’s 150th anniversary next year, they will host a year-long celebration to inspire future generations of innovators, honouring those who have excelled in science, technology and physics which will kick off at the University of Waterloo. Piron, who studied at Waterloo and obtained a graduate degree in Medical Biophysics from the University of Toronto, has had the opportunity to work with some true pioneers in his career and has been inspired by those who have paved the way of global innovation.
Canadian researchers first developed nuclear medicine for the treatment of brain tumors, initiated the development of the pacemaker, discovered a way to treat rickets in children, and changed the standard of care for diabetes with the discovery of insulin. Dr. Wilder Penfield, who during his life was nicknamed “the greatest living Canadian,” founded the Montreal Neurological Institute at McGill University. He inspired many to enter the field of neuroscience with his work in epilepsy and neuro stimulation technique. He developed a method that became known as ‘The Montreal Procedure,” where he removed the skull cap of a patient, and while they were awake used electrical current to stimulate the brain in unmapped regions, discovering the source of memory. The Canadarm, the most famous achievement as the first real robotics in space exploration, established Canada’s reputation as a leader in technological innovation of advanced manipulator systems and robotics.
Dr. Brian Toyota, Head of the Division of Neurosurgery for The University of British Columbia and Vancouver General Hospital, followed the esteemed line of neurosurgical greats from McGill University and the University of Western Ontario. He is looking forward to lending his expertise as a clinician in developing world class neurosurgical innovation. “Canadians should be proud of their heritage in medical innovation and game-changing creativity, Synaptive represents the next generation in that tradition,” said Dr. Toyota.
“The neurosurgical community across the world has now recognized this company and their remarkable technological breakthroughs, the medical devices and creations coming out of Synaptive dramatically improves the quality of care for patients suffering from diseases of the brain and spinal cord,” said Dr. Toyota. “Equally exhilarating is the horizon of innovation that has been developed by Synaptive and the ability for physicians to work collaboratively with their engineers, the sum total of that formula is a revolutionary improvement in neurosurgical outcomes.”
Dr. Toyota will be hosting the first Canadian Neurosurgical Innovation Meeting Sept. 10 & 11th at MaRS in Toronto. A group of 30 neurosurgeons will be meeting to present their research and clinical interests, and find ways they can develop future innovations. Synaptive’s ability to understand the needs of the surgeon and bring innovations quickly to market to support them is what they do best.
Dr. Taufik Valiante, is Director of the Surgical Epilepsy Program at the Krembil Neuroscience Center, a Scientist at the Krembil Research Institute, and has staff appointments at Toronto Western Hospital and University of Toronto. Dr. Valiente practices only a few blocks away from Synaptive’s headquarters, his insight into innovation advancement and the development of a state of the art epilepsy program is ideal for Synaptive’s continued understanding of neurosurgical needs. “It is very exciting, to have right next door a company creating leading edge neurosurgical tools with the practical implication of driving innovative care, and facilitating cutting edge neuroscience and neurosurgical research.”
“In this tradition, as many before us, we hope to become part of a long line of pioneers who have developed innovation that has revolutionized the way clinicians practice medicine and deliver state of the art care around the world,” said Cameron Piron. “This is just the beginning of where we want to go, this approval will enable us to foster future innovations alongside world renowned specialists who have dedicated their careers to finding a better way.”
About Synaptive Medical | Synaptive Medical, a Toronto based company has a talented team of scientists, engineers, and locally based customer care specialists specifically committed to the development and support of surgical technologies and therapies. The result is their BrightMatter Solutions that provide advanced tools and information to allow surgeons to focus on patient outcomes. From advanced visualization and guidance to their first hands-free surgical scope, Synaptive Medical is collaborating with surgeons, hospitals and industry partners to define a new standard of care for surgical intervention.