Neurosurgery supports and welcomes transparent physician-industry interactions to foster healthy relations and spur innovative device development to benefit patients. Within the specialty of neurosurgery, there are numerous examples of just such benefits, including increased access to stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS). SRS is a treatment that delivers radiation to precise targets in the brain, such as tumors, while minimizing injury to adjacent areas.
As part of the ongoing Neurosurgery Blog Tumor Series, Deborah L. Benzil, MD, FAANS, FACS, interviewed Stefan Vilsmeier, the CEO and founder of Brainlab. Mr. Vilsmeier discusses why he founded the company and how his software and hardware have increased neurosurgical patient access to SRS. Mr. Vilsmeier observed that many institutions created homegrown radiosurgery systems, but there were no commercially available options.
Brainlab created an innovative software and hardware for performing SRS to provide greater treatment access through standardization. Taking it a step further, Brainlab offers the Novalis Circle, a user group to ensure quality, and Novalis Certified Accreditation Program to promote the delivery of radiosurgery at a level of efficacy and safety commensurate with the highest standards of clinical practice.
The interviews are available here and on Neurosurgery Blog’s YouTube channel.
Part I: What is stereotactic radiosurgery?
Part II: Dr. Benzil’s interview with Mr. Vilsmeier
Editor’s Note: Ethical interactions between industry and health care professionals are essential to strengthening patient trust in the health care system. The Open Payments system, also known as the Sunshine Act, is a federal program that collects information about the payments drug and device companies make to physicians and teaching hospitals. The data the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services collect is published annually.
We hope that you will share what you learn from our posts. We invite you to join the conversation on Twitter by following @Neurosurgery and @NSTumorSection and using the hashtag #TumorSeries.
