This tiny camera on a needle could enable safer brain surgeries

[Photo courtesy University of Adelaide]

A team of researchers at the Center for Nanoscale BioPhotonics at the University of Adelaide in Australia have developed a brain biopsy needle with a tiny camera attached to the end to make brain surgery safer.

When performing surgery on a brain tumor, regular biopsy needles usually pose the risk of hitting a blood vessel, killing the patient.

The optical imaging probe is encased within a brain biopsy needle. It is the size of a human hair and can show surgeons blood vessels before the needle can damage them, avoiding bleeds that can be potentially fatal.

It has a tiny fiber-optic camera that is attached to a flashlight and shines infrared light while inserting the biopsy needle. A computer analyzes the video coming from the camera and warns surgeons if there is a vessel in the way.

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