At the Department of Neurosurgery, School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, the original
ultrasonic contact microprobe (UCM) was designed. The efficacy of the instrument was
tested on 120 brains of Wistar strain rats. The authors have been investigating the
possibility of transferring high-energy ultrasound through the titanium wire probe
of the device and the efficacy of UCM in controlled punctiform destruction of brain
tissue. Light and electron microscope assessed the lesions made in the brains of experimental
rats. Histological findings in the preparations showed the zone of thermal injuries
from 100 to 200 µm and the zone of ultrastructural changes from 200 to 300 µm, indicating
the sparing effect of the microprobe with regard to the adjacent neurovascular structures.
The small dimensions of the ultrasonic contact microprobe (1.6 mm) enable its introduction
through the operating canal of a ventriculoscope. Further research is expected to
show the efficacy of the ultrasonic contact microprobe in endoscopic neurosurgery.
Key words:
Ultrasonic Microprobe - Endoscopy
References
- 1
Bond L J, Cimino W W.
Physics of ultrasonic surgery using tissue fragmentation.
Ultrasonics.
1996;
34
579-585
- 2
Bond L J, Cimino W W.
Physics of ultrasonic surgery using tissue fragmentation: Part II.
Ultrasound Med Biol.
1996;
22
101-117
- 3
Cimino W W, Bond L J.
Physics of ultrasonic surgery using tissue fragmentation: Part I.
Ultrasound Med Biol.
1996;
22
89-100
- 4
Goss S A, Frizzell L A, Dunn F.
Ultrasonic absorption and attenuation in mammalian tissues.
Ultrasound Med Biol.
1979;
5
181-186
- 5
Kehler U, Gliemorth J, Knopp U, Arnold H.
How to perforate safely a resistant floor of the 3rd ventricle. Technical note.
Minim Invas Neurosurg.
1998;
41
198-199
- 6
Mueller W, Fritzch G.
Medicotechnical basics of surgery using invasive ultrasonic energy.
Endoscop Surg Allied Technol.
1994;
2
205-210
- 7
Perneczky A, Fries G.
Endoscope-assisted brain surgery: Part I - evolution, basic concept and current technique.
Neurosurgery.
1998;
42
219-224
- 8
Schurr O, Werman M, Kunert W.
Histological effect of different technologies for dissection in endoscopic surgery:
Nd:YAG laser, high frequency electrocauter and water-jet.
Endoscop Allied Technol.
1994;
2
195-201
Corresponding Author:
K RotimM.D., M.Sc
Department of Neurosurgery Clinical Hospital Centar Zagreb
Kispaticeva 12 10 000 Zagreb, Croatia
Phone: Tel. & Fax: ++385 1 2333 196
Email: E-mail: nrk-kbc@zg.tel.hr
