Smart miniature robot for precise positioning and targeting in neurosurgery 07-175

Problem

While recent advances in neurosurgery have made it possible to precisely target areas in the brain with minimum invasiveness -- using a small hole to insert a probe, needle or catheter -- there remains a disadvantage.  The small size of the openings reduces or eliminates direct site visibility and requires greater dexterity, stability and precision by the surgeon. 

Although keyhole brain surgery, based on preoperative CT or MRI images, has obvious advantages for the patient, misplacement of the surgical instrument in these procedures may result in hemorrhage and severe neurological complications.

Smart Solution

To overcome this problem, researchers  have developed a novel, image-guided system for precise, automatic targeting of structures inside the brain-- a tiny robot that can guide surgical procedures with great accuracy..  The system is based on a miniature robot that can be programmed with detailed information obtained from preoperative electronic scans of the patient.  During surgery, the robot is directly affixed to a head clamp or to the patient's skull.  It automatically positions itself with great accuracy in respect to the surgical targets.  Once positioned, the robot locks itself in place and serves as a guide for insertion by the surgeon of a needle, probe, or catheter to carry out the procedure.  The main advantages of the system are the reduced pain for the patient, its compactness and ease of use, and its applicability to a wide variety of neurosurgical procedures.

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Walter Derzko -"Changing the world, one idea at a time"©

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