Neuroscientists at Western University have developed a potentially game-changing technique to help healthcare professionals treat patients with head injuries.
An international research team, led by Western researchers Andrea Soddu, Demetrius Ribeiro de Paula and Adrian Owen, developed a new way to analyze brain scans for radiologists and surgeons.
Andrea Soddu, a researcher with Western University's Department of Physics &Astronomy. (Photo courtesy of mediarelations.uwo.ca)
Currently, MRI scans are displayed as a chaotic, multi-layered image that is very difficult to declutter.
The researches recently published a study detailing their new analysis technique, which breaks down the brain scan into single, decompressed layers.
"Instead of having just one graph that is overwhelming and you really just see the overall shape and dark and lights spots, you can now recognize the formal network and very specific regions of the brain that are affected or not affected by something like a lesion or a tumor," says Soddu. "This is obviously vital information for radiologists, surgeons and all health care providers."
The team of researchers are working to bring the new technique to industry partners for the development of surgical interventions.