Recent advances in surgical technology--open MRI and "real-time" navigation

Many advances of neurosurgery had been achieved about diagnostic and operative tools such as CT scan, MRI, stereotaxy, and microscope, in 20th century. However, intraoperative diagnostic tools are not sufficient for providing solid data. So we developed new operating system for 21st century (Intelligent Operating Theater: IOT). The IOT has an open MRI machine for intraoperative MR imaging that provides objective anatomical data and the "real-time" navigation updated with iMRI that navigates surgeons to the target area. The IOT has contributed to the improvement of the resection rate in brain tumor cases.