First MR-Safe and CT-Compatible Neurosurgical Horseshoe Headrest Provides Nonrigid Positioning

A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-safe and computed tomography (CT)-compatible neurosurgical horseshoe headrest provides nonrigid head positioning for pediatric and adult patients during brain surgery and intraoperative imaging in a surgical theater system. 

IMRIS, Inc. (Minneapolis, MN, USA) recently launched of the world’s first MR-safe and CT-compatible horseshoe headrest on the market for the positioning of patients ranging from neonatal to adult during neurosurgical procedures that need intraoperative imaging in the Visius surgical theatre.


The horseshoe headrest provides nonpinned head support in prone, lateral, and supine positions during head, neck and cervical spine surgeries where use of a head fixation device (HFD) is not appropriate because the skull is too fragile for pinning. These patients may be infants whose skulls are still soft or older patients with weakened skull bones.

“The IMRIS horseshoe headrest expands the use of intraoperative imaging to patients who cannot be positioned for surgery with a head fixation device, such as neonatal and young pediatric patients. This headrest may also be useful for other applications not requiring rigid fixation, such as those that access the skull through the nose,” said Dr. James Baumgartner, surgical director of the Comprehensive Pediatric Epilepsy Center at Florida Hospital (Orlando, USA). “This will enhance an already sophisticated technology platform that includes intraoperative MR and the comprehensive team approach we have for pediatric tumor and epilepsy care.”

IMRIS president and CEO Jay D. Miller reported that surgeons at hospitals using Visius systems that implement the headrest will now have an opportunity to help both a patient population, including those too small for other positioning devices, and procedures not previously utilized in the surgical theater. “We received tremendous feedback and enthusiasm from pediatric neurosurgeons during development of this product,” he said. “This headrest will allow surgeons to use [the device] on more patients who we expect will benefit from the same outcomes, including reduced reoperation rates, which we have recently reported from hospitals.

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