Researchers at Vanderbilt University have created a new "steerable needle" that could remove deadly blood leaks from the brain.
A hemorrhage can occur when a vein bursts in the brain, causing blood to leak in. This new invention hopes to remedy such cases RedOrbit reported.
Current treatments for intracerebral hemorrhages are often avoided by neurosurgeons because they are extremely invasive and can cause more harm than good. Drugs are a more common remedy for the dangerous condition.
"When I was in college, my dad had a brain hemorrhage. Fortunately, he was one of the lucky few who survived and recovered fully. I'm glad I didn't know how high his odds of death or severe brain damage were at the time, or else I would have been even more scared than I already was," Robert J. Webster III mechanical engineering professor who helped to innovate the needle, said, according to RedOrbit.
Webster's father did not undergo an operation for his hemorrhage.
In the Steerable Needle procedure, a CT scan would be used to determine the exact location of the clot. The robotic arm would be positioned outside of the skull, and a tube would be inserted into the brain until it was able to suck out the blood.
The system would most likely be able to remove about 92 percent of the clot.
"The trickiest part of the operation comes after you have removed a substantial amount of the clot. External pressure can cause the edges of the clot to partially collapse making it difficult to keep track of the clot's boundaries," Webster said.
The professor and his team have been working on the needle for four years. It was originally intended to be used in the removal of pituitary tumors.
After hearing from University of Maryland neurosurgeon Marc Simard that a similar device would be useful in hemorrhage treatment, Webster and his team adjusted the design to fit that needle.
WATCH:
