Robot Fights Brain Clots

When a person has a blood clot in certain parts of the brain, surgeons must weigh the pros and cons of whether going its removal is worth the potential damage that might occur to the surrounding tissue. That delicate dilemma is why researchers at Vanderbilt University have designed a special robot that could suction away blood clots, while minimizing damage to the brain.

The university said this new robotic surgical system uses "steerable needles" that can go around corners and reach places where surgeons previously couldn't easily access. With a surgeon's guidance, the robot makes a very small opening in the brain and then can be guided using medical imaging (e.g. CT scans). Then, the needles can reach right into a brain hemorrhage and suck out the blood clot from within. Read more...