Technology nowadays has led to a lot of
innovations and discoveries that help us in our daily lives, no matter how
simple or complex they may be. Scientists never stop looking for ways that can
make life easier. During the last 40-50 years, modern imaging techniques of
neuroradiology such as the CT and the MRI are really vital in brain surgeries.
It was a breakthrough in the field of medicine when these were invented. Another
breakthrough though, has been made that can greatly change the face of today’s
medicine: The ClearPoint System.
So what is The ClearPoint System?
MRI Interventions says that
“ClearPoint system is the only surgical platform that provides real-time MRI
guidance and immediate visualization to enable a range of minimally invasive
procedures in the brain.” (mriinterventions.com, 2014) It simply caught my
attention because it makes brain surgeries easier both for the doctors and for
the patients. Among all surgeries, I believe brain surgeries are the most
difficult ones to do. A simple mistake can have a huge effect on the patient,
because we’re talking about the brain here. That’s why neurosurgeons are the
highest paid surgeons among all others. And really, this kind of innovation
gives a lot of opportunities. I won’t discuss the technicalities of this
invention because I myself would just be overwhelmed since we’re not experts in
the field. What I can write about though is why it is such a great invention,
or simply, its advantages.
First of all, the ClearPoint System, according
to the same website, allows the patient to sleep under general anesthesia
during the surgery. A number of normal brain surgeries require the patient to
stay awake throughout the surgery so that the patient can give responses to the
surgeon, because the surgeon needs to check if brain activity is still normal
while he/she operates on the patient’s brain. With ClearPoint System, a
real-time MRI gives the surgeon feedback while doing the surgery, making it
more comfortable for the patient. Who wants to be awake while undergoing a
surgery, right? Also, because of this real-time visualization, it gives
surgeons more accuracy and a chance for quick response for any complications
that may arise during the operation.
Second, “it allows surgeons to establish
a safe trajectory to the target location in minutes, right before performing
the placement.” (mriinterventions, 2014) Before ClearPoint, surgeons need to
take scans hours or days before the surgery in order to see what’s wrong in the
brain, and then they plan the course of action. With ClearPoint, this becomes
easier for the doctors and gives them the chance for immediate adjustment for
cases of brain shifting and other movements. With ClearPoint, surgeons need not guess their trajectory adjustments which are way too dangerous for the
patients.
The ClearPoint System also avoids
radiation for the patients. Instead of going through ionizing radiation from
the CT and X-ray, patients get to avoid risks of exposure from these. All
throughout the surgery, the continuous imaging does not, in any way, cause harm
to the patient.
There have been a lot of clinical
trials already that ClearPoint System helped. Some of these are clinical trials
for Parkinson’s disease and neurological tumors. It has also helped in Focal
Laser Ablation. “Laser ablation is the targeted, therapeutic destruction of
diseased or malignant tissue and is used to treat certain neurological
disorders such as epilepsy or brain tumor. Using the ClearPoint platform for
delivery of the therapy, surgeons can see in real time the location of the
laser catheter and affected area. Direct visualization not only helps ensure
accuracy, it also helps surgeons avoid inadvertently disrupting nearby healthy
tissue with the laser tool.” (mriinterventions.com, 2014)
Lastly, it helps Brain Biopsy
easier. Brain Biopsy is done when doctors suspect a brain tumor, wherein they
get a small piece of the suspected infected tissue in order to test it. With
ClearPoint System, it becomes easier for surgeons to get the small tissue
needed. It helps them confirm whether they are retrieving tissue from the
correct location, making the diagnosis more accurate.
I admit that I haven’t fully
understood the technicalities of the ClearPoint System. But I have been
watching a TV series (Grey’s Anatomy) which have shown a LOT of brain
surgeries, and a lot of patients who died because of them. Although it is
fictional, I can imagine that it does happen in real life. A lot of people
suffer from brain disorders and it’s about time the technology for brain surgery
levels up. Watching gave me information about these surgeries and I can see
that the said invention would greatly help neurosurgeons to perform surgeries
more efficiently. Talking as a daughter of a man who underwent brain surgery, I
must say that these kinds of innovations must be given attention so that more
people will be able to get the chance to benefit from this technology. I know
this wouldn’t have been made if not for those scientists who don’t stop
inventing things. It came from their brain, and it was made for the brain.
Reference List:
MRI Interventions
Why
ClearPoint?: ClearPoint Patients
March 8, 2014
MRI Interventions
ClearPoint
Applications: Asleep Deep Brain Stimulation
March 8, 2014
MRI Interventions
ClearPoint
Applications: Drug Delivery
http://www.mriinterventions.com/clearpoint/clearpoint-applications/drug-delivery
March 8, 2014
MRI Interventions
ClearPoint
Applications: Focal Laser Ablation
March 8, 2014
MRI Interventions
ClearPoint
Applications: Brain Biopsy
http://www.mriinterventions.com/clearpoint/clearpoint-applications/brain-biopsy
March 8, 2014
Pictures:
MRI Interventions
The
ClearPoint Neurosurgical Platform
Fox News
MRI-Guided
Brain Surgery Easier on Parkinson’s Patients
http://www.foxnews.com/health/2013/03/25/mri-guided-brain-surgery-easier-on-parkinsons-patients/
Chrystine L. Cobarrubias
2013-59986
Chrystine L. Cobarrubias
2013-59986
No comments:
Post a Comment