ANA Discussion Forum

General Category => AN Issues => Topic started by: Pooter on June 15, 2009, 09:06:31 pm

Title: Interesting Link
Post by: Pooter on June 15, 2009, 09:06:31 pm

A new way to do AN surgeries?  Interesting video..

http://www.yahoo.com/s/1086592 (http://www.yahoo.com/s/1086592)

Regards,

Brian

Title: Re: Interesting Link
Post by: jazzfunkanne on June 16, 2009, 04:46:47 am

was that video for AN surgery?

Title: Re: Interesting Link
Post by: leapyrtwins on June 16, 2009, 05:50:26 am

Amazing!  ;D

Title: Re: Interesting Link
Post by: Migoi on June 16, 2009, 06:04:13 am

Interesting link indeed. I'm glad that computer technology is being used for much more than making first person shooter video games more razzle dazzle.

A couple of thoughts that did bump into brain cells thought.... I'm really glad that the GPS they mentioned isn't actually the GPS system, but only operates similiar to the way the GPS system operates. My GPS will only get down to an accuracy of about 10 feet on a really good day with no obstacles and a goodly number of satellites visible.

It was interesting to hear a neurosurgeon admit that they were never sure they were going in the correct direction. I would have thought that measuring from know landmarks visibible in the MRI would have given them a really good idea about where they were going....but then I'm no brain surgeon.

Maybe Keanu Reeves got it wrong in "The Replacements" when he said, "Chicks dig scars."

..take care... tim b

Title: Re: Interesting Link
Post by: wendysig on June 16, 2009, 06:07:39 am

Brian,

A very interesting video.  I personally am hoping that one day they will be able to just beam brain tumors out tranporter style as in Star Trek.  Looks like technology is getting closer to that!   ;)

Wendy

Title: Re: Interesting Link
Post by: CHD63 on June 16, 2009, 06:59:12 am

Thank goodness the research facilities are continuing to explore and advance new techniques.  However, I am glad I had a proven method used for my AN surgery.  On the surgery in the video it looked like her tumor was much closer to the exterior of the skull.  ANs are much deeper and closer to the brain stem so I am thinking they will not employ that technique any time soon on AN removal (I am not a doctor so someone may correct me on this!).

Clarice

Title: Re: Interesting Link
Post by: HeadCase2 on June 16, 2009, 08:14:08 am

 I sometimes visit Duke's medical school library.  And they have cases in the hallways that display a collection of early neurosurgical tools, including several handmade head frames with various verniered angle scales, etc, for accurately reaching some part of the brain.  It would be easy to mistake some of them for medieval torture devices.  This video describes a next evolution in the goal to be able to treat some problematic part of the brain accurately with the most minimal impact on surrounding structures.
 Regards,
   Rob
PS:  My favorite new technology for treating brain tumors involves training the body's immune system to attack the tumor cell-- no intrusive treatment required.  This is done by identifying a structure on the surface of the tumor cell that is not found on the normal cells, and then training immune cells with a "vaccination" to attack only the tumor cells.

Title: Re: Interesting Link
Post by: msmaggie on June 16, 2009, 08:56:02 am

Wow!!  I think I know where I am going should (God forbid!) my tumor grow back.  That's amazing and comforting to know that real progress is being made-right here in my neck of the woods. :o

Priscilla

Title: Re: Interesting Link
Post by: CHD63 on June 16, 2009, 10:14:10 am

This is why I went to Duke!

Clarice

Title: Re: Interesting Link
Post by: Jim Scott on June 16, 2009, 02:30:43 pm

Brian: 

Definitely interesting and encouraging information regarding the likely future of brain surgery.  Thanks for posting it.

Jim