A groundbreaking discovery in medical technology is now granting surgeons access to real-time, high-definition images of spinal cords, potentially revolutionizing medical practices and providing hope to millions worldwide who suffer from chronic back pain.

(Photo : TED ALJIBE/AFP via Getty Images) 

An X-ray monitor shows an image (L) of a needle inserted into the spine during a spine surgery workshop at the anatomy room of the University of the Philippines medical school in Manila on June 26, 2019, as part of the Association of Southeast Nations' Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery and Techniques (ASEAN MISST 2019) congress. 

Presenting Surgeons With Real-Time HD Images

Researchers at the University of California, Riverside, have unveiled a groundbreaking innovation named "functional ultrasound imaging (fUSI)." This technology enables surgeons to obtain high-resolution imaging of the human spinal cord in real-time during surgical procedures.

Interesting Engineering reported that clinicians now have a groundbreaking tool at their disposal, providing insight into the spinal cord's inner workings and offering real-time monitoring of its response to diverse treatments. 

With its potential to alleviate the suffering of millions afflicted by chronic back pain worldwide, this technology holds immense promise. 

Leading the charge in utilizing functional ultrasound imaging for spinal cord visualization is Vasileios Christopoulos, an assistant professor of bioengineering at UCR. 

Unlike conventional techniques like functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), fUSI stands out for its unparalleled portability, eliminating the need for extensive infrastructure and rendering it adaptable to a variety of medical environments.

To showcase the capabilities of fUSI, Christopoulos and his research team partnered with the USC Neurorestoration Center at Keck Hospital. They put the technology to the test on six patients scheduled for last-resort pain surgery, demonstrating its effectiveness firsthand.

Overcoming Limitations

In their quest for relief from persistent pain, these individuals turned to spinal cord stimulation using electrodes, having exhausted other treatment options. The objective was to diminish their suffering and improve their overall well-being.

Christopoulos explains through the official press release the rationale behind spinal cord stimulation, likening it to our natural response to pain. He compares it to rubbing a bumped hand, which increases blood flow and signals the brain to alleviate pain. 

The goal of spinal cord stimulation is to induce similar responses in the spinal cord to alleviate discomfort. This advancement addresses previous challenges in evaluating such treatments, which were hindered by patients being under anesthesia and unable to provide feedback.

Using ultrasound, clinicians can now monitor changes in blood flow in the spinal cord caused by electrical stimulation. This monitoring can indicate the effectiveness of the treatment, offering a promising development in understanding interventions for chronic back pain.

Researchers are lauding this for its ability to overcome the limitations of traditional imaging methods, which often struggle to navigate the intricate complexities of the spinal cord. These challenges stemmed from motion artifacts induced by the pulsation of the heart and breathing.

Also Read: Stimulating The Spinal Cord With Pulse Generator Can Help Injured People Walk Again: Study

In contrast, the unique approach of fUSI significantly reduces sensitivity to such artifacts. Similar to how submarine sonar uses sound waves to navigate and detect objects underwater, fUSI emits sound waves into the area of interest, generating clear images based on the echo produced by red blood cells.

The team's research showcases fUSI's remarkable capability to detect blood flow changes at levels below 1 millimeter per second, surpassing the precision of conventional methods like fMRI, which can only detect changes of 2 centimeters per second.

Christopoulos anticipates a notable improvement in the success rate of this type of surgery, which currently stands at 50%, owing to enhanced monitoring of blood flow changes.

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