Surgical Robotics Systems for Deep Brain Neurosurgery

Robotics systems designed for surgical applications such as Neurosurgery, likely may need to implement synchronous communication in real time and asynchronous learning. It will likely primarily be oriented towards spatial imaging and 3D virtualization, various communication protocols, and calibration settings in order to perform optimal results. In regards to computation, it needs to be heavily fault tolerant in operation. It also needs to be aware of false positives. Likely a complex deep brain surgical robotics system would implement variations of brain mapping technology and may utilize topological neuroanatomy. Various technologies in regards to the mapping of the brain, visualization, robotics and mechatronics systems would need to be in place. This paper is to look at the sciences through a theoretical and conceptual process. This isn’t FDA reviewed for medical accuracy and is meant to warrant a theoretical paper where information is “as-is”. This will hopefully provide a blueprint for continuing research later on.

A Proposed Brain-, Spine-, and Mental- Health Screening Methodology (NEUROSCREEN) for Healthcare Systems: Position of the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics

The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated neurological, mental health disorders, and neurocognitive issues. However, there is a lack of inexpensive and efficient brain evaluation and screening systems. As a result, a considerable fraction of patients with neurocognitive or psychobehavioral predicaments either do not get timely diagnosed or fail to receive personalized treatment plans. This is especially true in the elderly populations, wherein only 16% of seniors say they receive regular cognitive evaluations. Therefore, there is a great need for development of an optimized clinical brain screening workflow methodology like what is already in existence for prostate and breast exams. Such a methodology should be designed to facilitate objective early detection and cost-effective treatment of such disorders. In this paper we have reviewed the existing clinical protocols, recent technological advances and suggested reliable clinical workflows for brain screening. Such protocols range from questionnaires and smartphone apps to multi-modality brain mapping and advanced imaging where applicable. To that end, the Society for Brain Mapping and Therapeutics (SBMT) proposes the Brain, Spine and Mental Health Screening (NEUROSCREEN) as a multi-faceted approach. Beside other assessment tools, NEUROSCREEN employs smartphone guided cognitive assessments and quantitative electroencephalography (qEEG) as well as potential genetic testing for cognitive decline risk as inexpensive and effective screening tools to facilitate objective diagnosis, monitor disease progression, and guide personalized treatment interventions. Operationalizing NEUROSCREEN is expected to result in reduced healthcare costs and improving quality of life at national and later, global scales.

Surgical Robotics Systems for Deep Brain Neurosurgery

Robotics systems designed for surgical applications such as Neurosurgery, likely may need to implement synchronous communication in real time and asynchronous learning. It will likely primarily be oriented towards spatial imaging and 3D virtualization, various communication protocols, and calibration settings in order to perform optimal results. In regards to computation, it needs to be heavily fault tolerant in operation. It also needs to be aware of false positives. Likely a complex deep brain surgical robotics system would implement variations of brain mapping technology and may utilize topological neuroanatomy. Various technologies in regards to the mapping of the brain, visualization, robotics and mechatronics systems would need to be in place. This paper is to look at the sciences through a theoretical and conceptual process. This isn’t FDA reviewed for medical accuracy and is meant to warrant a theoretical paper where information is “as-is”. This will hopefully provide a bleuprint for continuing research later on.

Insular gliomas and tractographic visualization of the connectome

In this video, the authors present a connectome-guided surgical resection of an insular glioma in a 39-year-old woman. Preoperative study with constrained spherical deconvolution (CSD)–based tractography revealed the surrounding brain connectome architecture around the tumor relevant for safe surgical resection. Connectomic information provided detailed maps of the surrounding language and salience networks, including eloquent white matter fibers and cortical regions, which were visualized intraoperatively with image guidance and artificial intelligence (AI)–based brain mapping software. Microsurgical dissection is presented with detailed discussion of the safe boundaries and angles of resection when entering the insular operculum defined by connectomic information. The video can be found here: https://stream.cadmore.media/r10.3171/2021.10.FOCVID21194

QEEG-based Brain Mapping of Internet Pornography Addicted Adolescents

The Indonesian government for many years has tried to protect the public from the dangers of pornography by blocking various sites. Although various efforts have been made to block access to pornography, a report from the Ministry of Women's Empowerment and Child Protection mentioned that 97% of Indonesian teens were exposed to pornography from the internet. In order to increase awareness, especially in the addiction phase, scientific evidences showing the bad effects of pornography addiction is needed. In this study, 15 teens addicted to internet pornography underwent brain mapping using electroencephalography (EEG) in a resting state for approximately 20 minutes. The data were processed using a quantitative EEG (QEEG) approach, especially Fast Fourrier Transform (FFT) by first removing all artifacts on the electroencephalogram during recording. The analysis focused on the delta wave in the forebrain, showing the dominance of the prefrontal cortex, which has implications for cognitive function decline, especially the braking system among these teens addicted to internet pornography. The decline in cognitive function causes teens to lose the ability to determine what is right and wrong or refrain from doing wrong. Based on the results, efforts to educate teens about the dangers of pornography addiction need to be further promoted.

STMO-6 Impact of the extent of resection on the survival of patients with lower grade gliomas using awake brain mapping

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the effect of the extent of resection (EOR) of tumors on survival in a series of patients with lower-grade gliomas (LGGs) who underwent awake brain mapping. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 126 patients with LGGs in the dominant and non-dominant hemisphere who underwent awake brain surgery at the same institution between December 2012 and May 2020. Results: The median progression-free survival (PFS) rate of patients with LGGs in the group with an EOR >100 %, including supratotal resection (n = 47; median survival [MS], not reached), was significantly higher than that in the group with an EOR <100% (n = 79; MS, 43.1 months; 95% CI: 37.8–48.4 months; p = 0.04). In patients with diffuse astrocytomas and anaplastic astrocytomas, the group with EOR >100 %, including supratotal resection (n = 25; MS, not reached), demonstrated a significantly better PFS rate than did the group with an EOR <100% (n = 45; MS, 35.8 months; 95% CI: 19.9–51.6 months; p = 0.03). Supratotal or gross total resection was correlated with better PFS in IDH-mutant type of diffuse astrocytomas and anaplastic astrocytomas (n = 19; MS, not reached vs. n = 35; MS, 40.6 months; 95% CI: 22.3–59.0 months; p = 0.02). By contrast, supratotal or gross total resection was not associated with longer PFS rates in patients with IDH-wild type of diffuse astrocytomas and anaplastic astrocytomas. Conclusions: It is noteworthy that supratotal or gross total resection significantly correlated with better PFS in IDH-mutant type of WHO grade II and III astrocytic tumors. In light of our finding that EOR did not correlate with PFS in patients with aggressive IDH-wild type of diffuse astrocytomas and anaplastic astrocytomas, we suggest treatments that are more intensive will be needed for the control of these tumors.

Q-EEG map of parietal and frontal lobes out of brain waves recording during dental hypnosis practice

Introduction: A patient with fear and anxiety is a common case to deal with for a dentist, therefore, dental hypnosis has been widely used to ease this situation. In a hypnotized state, the human brain may easily accept any suggestion. This is projected in the brain waves. Electroencephalograph (EEG) is a brain wave recording device, reflecting several states of consciousness. Beta for conscious, alpha and theta for subconscious, and delta for sleep. Dental hypnosis puts down beta waves to alpha or theta. Quantitative Electroencephalography (Q-EEG) or brain mapping is a comprehensive analysis of (Electroencephalography, EEG) in a colored topographic map, reflecting the brain's electrical activity. The objective of this article was reporting the parietal and frontal lobes activity during dental hypnosis based on the Q-EEG mapping. Methods: The research applied a quantitative research method using observatory study. The sample was taken with an accidental sampling method, with inclusion criteria, patients with dental anxiety and exclusion criteria was patients with special need and high level of dental anxiety. Data of the EEG records was taken in January-March 2018, and processed after in Pramita laboratorium Bandung. Results: Parietal lobe affected more during the inducement than temporal lobe. During dental hypnosis, the hypnotic markers (theta and alpha states) observed from the EEG were found to be more reactive. Conclusion: Dental hypnosis effects can be observed easily using Quantitative Electroencephalography method. Dental hypnosis affects brainwaves and brain mapping which indicate relaxations of brain waves especially on parietal lobes.