New needle to make brain surgery safer

Scientists have developed a new smart needle with a tiny camera that allows surgeons to see at-risk blood vessels and avoid injuring them, an advance that may make brain surgery safer.

The tiny imaging probe, encased within a brain biopsy needle, lets surgeons 'see' blood vessels as they insert the needle, allowing them to avoid causing bleeds that can potentially be fatal.

"We call it a smart needle. It contains a tiny fibre-optic camera, the size of a human hair."