Wyss researchers develop new minimally invasive imaging system for neurosurgery

 Researchers from the Wyss Center published a new paper highlighting a cutting-edge, minimally invasive optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for neurosurgery.

According to the Wyss Center, the work presents a novel, forward-viewing, common-path OCT system operating at 1310 nm. It offers real-time, high-resolution imaging capabilities crucial for neurosurgical applications. The system can visualize neuroanatomy and blood flow with detail, enhancing the precision of surgeries like deep brain stimulation (DBS) implantation, brain biopsies and tumor resections, according to Wyss.

This technology could address current neurosurgical limitations in four ways, the Wyss Center said. First, its minimally invasive design features a compact, forward-viewing endoscope for compatibility with existing neurosurgical tools. This minimizes invasiveness while enhancing surgical accuracy.

Second, real-time tissue and blood vessel visualization enables surgeons to identify and avoid blood vessels. This significantly reduces the risk of hemorrhage during surgery.

Third, its ability to provide high-resolution, 3D imaging in real-time helps maintain the planned trajectory during procedures. This addresses challenges like brain shift and anatomical changes that may occur during surgery.

Finally, the common-path design simplifies device setup and maintenance and eliminates the need for complex polarization setups.

Wyss Center said researchers tested the system in vivo in a rabbit cohort. It demonstrated the potential to integrate into current neurosurgical workflows and improve the accuracy of complex procedures. Researchers said in a news release that the latest milestone represents a “significant step toward more precise, minimally invasive neurosurgeries.”

The team at Wyss Center spin-off Clee Medical is developing the technology and exploring its potential applications across various surgical disciplines.

Visit our website: cognitivescientist.org                                                             Nomination now: cognitivescientist.org/award-nomination/?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

How chronic stress warps decision-making

Image
  Nerve-cell ‘highways’ identified in mice suggest that stress pushes the brain towards rigid habit and away from thoughtful choices. Scientists have found two ‘dials’ in the brain that help to explain how  chronic stress  hijacks decision-making 1 . The discovery is based on experiments in mice and will therefore need to be confirmed in humans. But it shows that prolonged stress dials back deliberate decision-making while also boosting an ‘autopilot’ mode in the brain that favours rigid, habitual behaviours. It’s long been known that humans who face chronic stress are prone to resort to a habit, such as smoking a cigarette or eating junk food, rather than make a well-thought-out decision. The work, reported today in  Nature , uncovers a biological mechanism for how stress puts its finger on the scale in favour of routine, scientists say. “It’s really a major achievement,” says Kyle Smith, a neuroscientist at Dartmouth University in Hanover, New Hampsh...
Read more