Robot will allow UNBORN babies to be operated on in their mother's womb
Researchers at University College London have set up a project in order to create a robot to help carry out the delicate surgery- whilst the baby is still in the mothers womb
Unborn babies could be operated on in the womb with a miniature robot hand being developed by scientists.
Researchers at University College London have launched a £10 million project to create the tiny instrument that could provide 3D images of foetuses and carry out delicate surgery.
If successfully developed the instrument would be revolutionary in the treatment of conditions like spina bifida - when a baby’s spine does not form properly - which affects one in 1000 babies.
Currently, there is little that can be done to prevent the disease from developing in the womb, with operations only possible when the foetus in 26 weeks old.
However, it is hoped that this robot would be able to patch up the gaps in the foetus’ spine from as early as 16 weeks into the pregnancy.
Project leader, Professor Sebastien Ourselin, from the UCL centre for medical image computing, said: “It will be like a plaster.
“If we can do that, there will be massive gain for the foetus while there will be little risk to the mother.”
He added about the robot, which could also carry out other delicate surgery for other conditions: “The aim is to create less invasive surgical technologies to treat a wide range of diseases in the womb, with considerably less risk to both mother and baby...
“Operating on babies in the womb should not be undertaken lightly.
“We need the very best surgical tools to do something like this, and this project will make sure we have them in the next few years.”
Comments
Post a Comment