AI has been used to assist in the removal of a brain tumour by a neurosurgeon for the first time.
48-year-old Rhys Hibbert is the first patient to have had surgery using the technique, and doctors believe that without the operation, his tumour would have continued to threaten his sight and could ultimately have led to blindness. The operation successfully removed the tumour and protected his vision.
During the procedure at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London, UK, AI analysed the live surgical video feed in real time, rather than using pre-surgery scans, to help the surgical team make more precise decisions by highlighting critical structures at the base of the brain.
In this part of the brain, the pituitary gland, blood vessels and nerves controlling vision are tightly packed together. Going a millimetre wrong can make a critical difference and lead to death, blindness or stroke.
The AI supported the surgical team helping identify risky areas to avoid while removing...