Catheter implanted into brain with robot shows promise for neurosurgery

The early-stage research tested the delivery and safety of the new implantable catheter design in two sheep. If proven effective and safe for use in people, it could help surgeons to see deeper into the brain to diagnose disease, deliver treatment like drugs and laser ablation more precisely to tumours, and better deploy electrodes for deep brain stimulation in conditions such as Parkinson’s and epilepsy.

The study, developed as part of the Enhanced Delivery Ecosystem for Neurosurgery in 2020 (EDEN2020) project, was funded by the EU Horizon 2020 programme and is detailed PLOS ONE.  

In a statement, senior author Professor Ferdinando Rodriguez y Baena, of Imperial College’s Department of Mechanical Engineering, said: “The brain is a fragile, complex web of tightly packed nerve cells that each have their part to play. When disease arises, we want to be able to navigate this delicate environment to precisely target those areas without harming healthy cells.

“Our new precise, minimally invasive platform improves on currently available technology and could enhance our ability to safely and effectively diagnose and treat diseases in people, if proven to be safe and effective.”