Micro-Laparoscopy Tool Developed for Trans-Cranial Neurosurgery

Researchers at Vanderbilt University in Tennessee have developed a revolutionary device for performing endoscopic surgery using a device based on needlescopic or micro-laparoscopy tools which allows transnasal brain surgery.
Using the act of miniaturizing existing devices, surgeons are able to get to even the most challenging regions of the body with less and less invasive procedures as the technology improves.
Unlike traditional surgical tools that are straight and narrow, this particular tool is able to bend and grab as well as manipulate the target tissue. Here’s a description of how it works:
The technique relies on the popular nitinol metal alloy, which has advanced shape memory properties. Putting slots on one side of the device’s shaft and running a wire down the middle allows it to be bend toward the side where the slots are when the wire is pulled on. Releasing the wire returns the instrument, thanks to the properties of nitinol, to its original shape. While the solution is pretty simple and intuitive in retrospection, it goes a long way to overcoming limitations that existing solutions have in being able to be scaled down to such a small level.
Watch the video for an interview with the developers and a demonstration on its capabilities.
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CEgUB5pVRmo[/embed]