Grady Health System Acquires Technology for Brain Surgery

Atlanta, GA -- Grady Health System, one of the busiest Level 1 trauma centers in the southeast and largest public hospitals in the United States, will be the first hospital in Georgia to acquire Synaptive Medical’s BrightMatter technology.

The technology provides physicians at Grady visualization with details of a patient’s brain for intervention in situations such as stroke or tumor.

BrightMatter uses a type of MRI called diffusion tensor imaging, or DTI, to produce an image of the entire brain’s pathways. This occurs immediately after the MRI is complete and allows physicians to consider every possible approach. Immediate access to these details can make a significant impact on patients who may be diagnosed with a stroke or brain tumor.

The technology brings the most advanced imaging system for neurosurgical planning and allows for minimally invasive surgical treatment of hemorrhages and tumors in deep locations of the brain that were previously thought to be inoperable. The potential impact for patients is transformative and includes smaller incisions, shorter recovery times, and preservation of vital brain and spinal cord functions."

The brain is made up of millions of pathways in the white matter that connect key functional areas. BrightMatter supports a physician’s ability to see these pathways, which cannot be seen with the naked eye or a standard MRI. While physicians know anatomy of the brain, every patient is different. Crossing these pathways may result in complications and prevent a physician from considering surgery. BrightMatter brings hope to patients whose condition might have previously been considered inoperable.

Image: Synaptive Medical