Neurosurgical Rehearsal Platform

Surgical Theater, LLC, announced in October, 2012, the allowance of a United States patent that covers transforming any given patient's own static CT and MR images into a realistic, interactive, 3D computer-based model of that patient.

This first Surgical Rehearsal Platform allows surgeons to plan and rehearse microsurgical techniques for clipping intracranial aneurysms and extracting brain tumors. Using standard scanned images from any patient, the Platform generates 3D images that enable the accurate modeling of interactions between life-like tissue and surgical instruments. The tissue responds "naturally" to actions taken by the surgeon, thus allowing accurate pre-surgery planning and rehearsal.

Read more on http://www.surgicaltheater.net

Dr. Lozano receives the Olivecrona medal 2012

Each year, the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, honors an international neurosurgeon for his or her contribution to brain and spinal cord surgery or research. Professor Herbert Olivecrona (1891-1980) was an internationally renowned neurosurgeon who is credited as being the father of modern neurosurgery in Sweden. He was professor of neurosurgery at the Karolinska Institute from 1935 to 1960.

Dr. Lozano is the Professor and Chairman of Neurosurgery at the University of Toronto, Canada, and holds both the RR Tasker Chair in Functional Neurosurgery and a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Neuroscience. He has an active laboratory dedicated to the study of neurodegeneration and functional neurosurgery.

Dr. Lozano is best known for his work in Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS). His team has obtained direct recordings of single neurons to map out cortical and subcortical structures in the human brain. He and his colleagues have pioneered DBS in the treatment of a number of disorders including depression, Huntington’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease.

The Olivecrona Award includes an invitation to the Laureate to deliver the Olivecrona Lecture at the Olivecrona Symposium held at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm on December 7, 2012, which is followed by a gala dinner. The Laureate receives the Olivecrona Medal and Diploma.

Read more on http://www.olivecrona.eu

Dr. Ossama Al-Mefty receives the Olivecrona medal

Each year, the Karolinska Institute, Sweden, honors an international neurosurgeon for his or her contribution to brain and spinal cord surgery or research. Professor Herbert Olivecrona (1891-1980) was an internationally renowned neurosurgeon who is credited as being the father of modern neurosurgery in Sweden. He was professor of neurosurgery at the Karolinska Institute from 1935 to 1960.

The Olivecrona Award includes an invitation to the Laureate to deliver the Olivecrona Lecture at the Olivecrona Symposium held at the Karolinska University Hospital in Stockholm in December, which is followed by a gala dinner. The Laureate receives the Olivecrona Medal and Diploma.

Dr. Ossama Al-Mefty, Harvard School of Medicine Boston, USA, will receive the 2011 Herbert Olivecrona Award in recognition of his important contributions to the field of skull base surgery, pioneering surgical techniques, as well as teaching neurosurgeons worldwide through numerous publications. His scientific contributions are reflected in over 350 publications that include authoring or editing seven books and 130 peer reviewed journal articles. He is a sought-after lecturer and has made over 400 presentations and over 50 Visiting Professorships at national and international universities.

Read more on http://www.olivecrona.eu

NeuRx Diaphragm Pacing System for treating ALS

Synapse Biomedical, Inc. announces in a News Release that the U.S. FDA has approved NeuRx Diaphragm Pacing System (DPS)® for treating amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients who have stimulatable diaphragms and are experiencing chronic hypoventilation.

The FDA Humanitarian Device Exemption (HDE) marketing approval is based on demonstration that NeuRx DPS® could help ALS patients live longer and sleep better than the current standard of care, alone. These findings are the result of a multicenter clinical trial.

Read more on Medgadget.