RWJBarnabas Health Introduces ClearPoint Navigation System and ROSA ONE® Brain Technology to Enhance Neurosurgery Precision and Performance

Innovative technology will benefit patients with epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and movement disorders.

(Livingston, NJ) - October 2, 2024 - RWJBarnabas Health has deployed two new, minimally invasive technologies to aid neurosurgeons treating patients with epilepsy, movement disorders and other neurological conditions. The ClearPoint Navigation System and ROSA ONE® Brain system enhance the precision and efficacy of neurosurgery. The technologies are currently in use at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) in New Brunswick.

The ClearPoint Navigation System provides highly accurate guidance for the placement and operation of instruments or devices during neurosurgery and procedures using 3D magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). At RWJUH, ClearPoint is used in conjunction with New Jersey's only intraoperative MRI - an MRI that is located inside of the operating suite. It is used to add robotic precision guidance to procedures that have traditionally used manual stereotactic methodology for procedures such as biopsies and catheter and electrode insertion. This includes deep brain stimulation (DBS) lead placement and for treating epilepsy and seizures. The combination of intraoperative MRI and ClearPoint allows neurosurgeons to perform "asleep" DBS implantation. This type of procedure is sometimes preferred by patients for their own comfort.

"As neurosurgeons, we are always seeking new ways to achieve the pinpoint accuracy needed to deliver the best outcomes for patients with complex diseases that have devastating impact on their quality of life," says Robert Gross, MD, PhD, Senior Vice President, Neurosurgical Services, RWJBarnabas Health and joint chair, Department of Neurosurgery, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and New Jersey Medical School. "New technologies are advancing rapidly right now thanks to AI and machine learning. It's an exciting time to bring new robots into the OR that promise to help us better treat our patients."

ROSA ONE® Brain is a robotic platform that assists surgeons in planning and performing complex yet minimally invasive neurosurgery via a robotic arm to place instruments in the brain through tiny holes in the skull. The ROSA robot can help neurosurgeons perform procedures for epilepsy and seizures, and brain tumors that once required a craniotomy, or removal of part of the bone from the skull. Patients undergoing a procedure with the ROSA robot often do not even need to have their hair shaved, in addition to achieving shorter operations and faster recovery times.

A neurosurgeon uses ROSA and its planning software to create a 3D map of the patient's brain and plan out exact pathways needed to carry out the procedure. ROSA ONE Brain follows the paths outlined by the surgical plan, and the surgeon carries out the surgery using the robot as a guide to reach a deep brain target for the placement of surgical instruments.

Learn more about these technologies or book an appointment with a neurosurgeon.

About Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) New Brunswick, an RWJBarnabas Health Facility, is a 628-bed academic medical center that is New Jersey's largest academic medical center through its deep partnership with Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. RWJUH is the flagship Cancer Hospital of Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey and The Bristol-Myers Squibb Children's Hospital at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, a nationally-ranked 2023-24 Best Children's Hospital by U.S. News & World Report. Centers of Excellence include cardiovascular care from minimally invasive heart surgery to transplantation, cancer care, stroke care, neuroscience, orthopedics, bariatric surgery and women's health. A Level 1 Trauma Center and the first designated Pediatric Trauma Center in the state, RWJUH's New Brunswick campus serves as a national resource in its ground-breaking approaches to emergency preparedness.

RWJUH has earned significant national recognition for clinical quality and patient safety, including the prestigious Magnet® Recognition for Nursing Excellence and being named to Newsweek's 2024 list of Best Ambulatory Surgery Centers. The RWJUH Advanced Comprehensive Stroke Center has been recognized by The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association as meeting The Joint Commission's standards for Disease-Specific Care Comprehensive Stroke Center Advanced Certification. RWJUH has also earned The Joint Commission's Gold Seal of Approval® for Disease-Specific Care Certification for Spine Surgery; The Joint Commission Gold Seal Certification for Bariatric Services; and The Joint Commission Gold Seal Certification for Hip and Knee Replacement services. The Joint Commission also awarded RWJUH a Gold Seal Certification as well as an Advanced Certification in Ventricular Assist Device (VAD) Implantation.

About RWJBarnabas Health

RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering eight counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals - Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway and Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth, three acute care children's hospitals, Children's Specialized Hospital with a network of outpatient pediatric rehabilitation centers, a freestanding 100-bed behavioral health center, two trauma centers, a satellite emergency department, ambulatory care centers, geriatric centers, the state's largest behavioral health network, comprehensive home care and hospice programs, fitness and wellness centers, retail pharmacy services, affiliated medical groups, multi-site imaging centers and two accountable care organizations.

RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey's largest private employers - with more than 41,000 employees and 9,000 physicians- and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health launched an affiliation with Rutgers University to create New Jersey's largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers' education, research and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey - the state's only NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center - and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.