Sapphire Neurosurgical Probe for Aspiration of Brain Tumors with Boundary Demarcation by Use of Spectroscopy

Abstract

A contact sapphire neurosurgical probe for the removal of brain tumors with the possibility of intraoperative exogenous fluorescence diagnostics and laser coagulation of adjacent blood vessels has been developed. The geometry of the sapphire neuroprobe has been optimized to increase the sensitivity of fluorescence diagnostics. For this purpose, a series of computational experiments have been performed using the Monte Carlo method. The technique for growing a sapphire shaped crystal with a variable cross section has been developed. Using this technique, a pilot prototype of the sapphire neuroprobe has been manufactured. The sample has been approbated experimentally.