A novel Australian invention that allows neurosurgeons to illuminate parts of the brain and avoid devastating complications during a biopsy has been trialled in humans for the first time.
A brain biopsy is a delicate procedure often used to diagnose or detect abnormalities, such as a suspected tumour. It involves inserting a needle into the brain and taking small samples of tissue for further testing.
A total of 11 patients, seven women and four men, had successful brain operations using the smart imaging needle at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital in Western Australia.