World's first patient to undergo live AI-assisted brain surgery has tumour removed
Without brain surgery guided by live AI assistance, Rhys Hibbert could have lost his sight to a tumour.
Rhys Hibbert, a father of two from Bedfordshire, has become the first patient to undergo brain surgery with live AI assistance. The operation, conducted at University College London Hospital, successfully removed an 11mm non-cancerous tumour from Hibbert's pituitary gland. This gland, located at the base of the skull, secretes vital hormones that regulate growth, metabolism, blood pressure, and temperature.
Hibbert had previously experienced vision problems due to the tumour pressing on his optic nerves, which narrowed his peripheral vision. The AI tool analyzed the live video feed during the surgery, identifying and highlighting areas with crucial vessels and nerves to avoid. This allowed the surgeons to safely remove as much of the tumour as possible.
Hibbert, a customer services manager, expressed his gratitude to the surgeons and emphasized the importance of participating in research to advance medical progress. The AI system, trained on hundreds of pituitary tumour removal videos, functions as an expert second pair of eyes, assisting the surgeons but retaining full control.
The government-funded research, supported by the National Institute for Health and Care Research and Google, aims to develop a more advanced AI tool for surgeons in the future.
Written by urgent.news from BBC Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
