GoKawiilUCL Hospital Uses AI System to Assist Live Brain Tumor Surgery for First Time
Surgeons at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London used an AI-powered video analysis system during a real operation to remove a pituitary tumor from patient Rhys Hibbert. The software, developed by UCL researcher Dr. Sophia Bano using footage from hundreds of past surgeries, color-coded critical nerves and blood vessels in real time to guide the surgical team. Hibbert, who faced possible blindness from the 11mm tumor, recovered quickly and has since returned to work.
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This marks a shift from AI as a research or training tool to an active aid in high-stakes, real-time surgical decision-making, where errors of a single millimeter can cause blindness or death. Success here could accelerate hospital adoption of similar computer-vision systems for other delicate procedures where surgeons need instant anatomical guidance.
- First known case of AI actively guiding a live brain tumor operation, not just training or planning.
- The system flagged nerves and blood vessels in real time to reduce risk near the patient's pituitary gland.
- Patient recovered vision and mobility quickly, illustrating the technology's potential clinical benefit.
Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy — If reading about AI mapping nerves and blood vessels around a pituitary tumor made you want to understand the terrain surgeons navigate, Netter's illustrated atlas is the classic reference for exactly that. Its detailed drawings of the skull base, cranial nerves, and vasculature make it a favorite for students, clinicians, and curious readers alike.
See Netter's Atlas of Human Anatomy on Amazon → Affiliate link — we may earn a commission on purchases, at no extra cost to you. Product picked by AI based on this article; it is not a tested recommendation.Source: techspot.com — Skye Jacobs, 2026-08-27
Published there as: “For the first time, AI guides surgeons through a brain tumor operation”
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