SBUMC to unveil one-of-a-kind neuroendovascular simulator

Stony Brook University Medical Center will unveil this Friday a one-of-a-kind neuroendovascular simulator that recreates vasculature in the brain, including scenarios of damaged vessels from acute stroke, brain aneurysms, and other cerebrovascular anomalies. Affectionately known in the lab as "Headley," the simulator - co-invented by B. Barry Lieber, PhD, a nationally recognized biomedical engineer and one of the world's foremost authorities on brain vasculature and Director of the Cerebrovascular Research Center at SBUMC (http://www.stonybrookmedicalcenter.org/crc/mission) - will profoundly impact research, teaching, diagnosis and treatment of neurovascular disease. Stroke is the number three cause of death behind heart attack and cancer in the U.S. Every 40 seconds, someone in the U.S. has a stroke and every four minutes, someone dies of one.

Supported by the most sophisticated imaging technology and the only robotically powered multi-axis angiography imaging technology in the region dedicated solely to research known as the Artis zeego, "Headley" will be introduced to the public for the first time by Dr. Lieber along with Drs. Henry Woo and David Fiorella, Endovascular Neurosurgeons and co-Directors of Stony Brook's Cerebrovascular Center, at an event commemorating the opening of the Cerebrovascular Center on December 17 at 12 noon in the Hospital lobby.

Another highlight planned for the December 17 ceremony are first hand life-and-death experiences as told by patients and family members who experienced severe neurological events, and how they were treated at the Cerebrovascular Center and now return to Stony Brook to share their stories.

Also making remarks at the event will be Dr. Ken Kaushansky, Sr. Vice President of the Health Sciences and Dean of the School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Hospital CEO, Dr. Steven Strongwater, and Dr. Raphael Davis, Chairman of the Department of Neurological Surgery and Co-Director of the Institute for Advanced Neurosciences (http://stonybrookneurosciences.org/).

"We established the Cerebrovascular Center as a comprehensive clinical and research program for the diagnosis and treatment of acute stroke, brain aneurysms, atherosclerosis, arteriovenus malformations (AVMs), as a direct response to the growing health care needs of the Suffolk County population," said Dr. Davis. "Patients can feel confident that they are receiving the highest level of care available from Drs. Woo and Fiorella and their support team."

"Neuroendovascular and cerebrovascular surgery are rapidly expanding fields, and we offer Long Islanders the most advanced care and latest technology to treat cerebrovascular disease by way of surgical and neurointerventional procedures," said Dr. Woo. "Our acquisition of top line imaging technology, 320-slice CT, and other capabilities means we are responding directly to a growing need for these services in Suffolk County and beyond."

Dr. Woo explains that the new research arm of the program, the Cerebrovascular Research Center (CRC), is crucial to paving the way for future patient care by finding the best and most effective ways to treat cerebrovascular conditions. The CRC will set the foundation for the discovery, testing, and delivery of new endovascular therapies by integrating bioengineering approaches with clinical medical sciences.

Dr. Lieber points to the neuroendovascular simulator as one of several cutting-edge developments of the CRC. The simulator will serve as a teaching and research tool to be used in conjunction with the Artis zeego system which is powered by advanced robotic technology to provide virtually unrestricted capabilities for imaging neurological vasculature of stroke, brain aneurysms AVM, and other cerebrovascular abnormalities.

"Basic and translational research on hemodynamics (circulation of the blood) completed in the CRC will not only lead to new methods to treat cerebrovascular conditions but also further improve existing methods performed on patients at the Center," said Dr. Lieber.

Dr. Woo and colleagues currently perform every FDA-approved minimally invasive stroke interventional technique in the United States. Among routine procedures include repairing aneurysms, opening and stenting of narrowed or blocked arteries of the brain and carotid arteries, obliteration of AVMs, mechanical thrombectomy for blocked brain arteries and intracranial bypass procedures.

SOURCE Cerebrovascular Center at Stony Brook University Medical Center