Flight Simulation Technology Gives Neurosurgeons a Peek Inside Before Brain Surgery

NYU Langone Medical Center is now using a novel technology that serves as a “flight simulator” for neurosurgeons, allowing them to rehearse brain surgeries before making an actual incision into a patient. The new simulation technology, called the Surgical Rehearsal Platform (SRP), creates an individualized experience based on 3D imaging taken from the patient’s CT and MRI scans. Surgeons are able to then plan and rehearse the surgeries using the software, which combines life-like tissue reaction with accurate modeling of surgical tools and clamps, enabling them to navigate multiple-angled models of a patient’s brain and vasculature. For example, when rehearsing for an aneurysm surgery, the SRP reacts realistically when the surgeon virtually applies a clip to the blood vessel. This allows for an assessment of the tissue’s mechanical characteristics including shadowing and texture. To read more about this, click here.