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Gloucestershire Business News

Renishaw robot makes guest appearance in TV's Holby City

A robot developed by Renishaw, the Gloucestershire-based world-leading engineering and scientific technology company, made a guest appearance in the operating theatres of Holby City.

Renishaw's neuromate stereotactic robot recently featured in an episode of the popular BBC hospital drama.

During the episode, neuromate assists with the treatment of an Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) patient who undergoes a stereotactic Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) procedure.

In the storyline, neurosurgeons use advanced MRI technology and Renishaw's neuroinspire software to identify the region of the brain responsible for generating the OCD symptoms.

A carbothane neuroguide guide tube kit is used to create tracts for the insertion of thin and flexible specialist electrodes.

Powered by a battery pack implanted in the patient's chest, the electrodes deliver a series of persistent electric impulses to stimulate the symptom-generating region of the brain.

DBS can have remarkable therapeutic effects in the treatment of OCD, and other neuro-disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

The patient undergoing surgery in Holby City is kept awake during the DBS procedure. Historically, this would have been necessary to allow the neurosurgeon to monitor the patient's response to treatment.

A typical DBS procedure lasts six to eight hours, which can be gruelling for both patient and neurosurgeon.

However, improvements in surgical imaging and supporting technology, including the products from Renishaw described above, means that DBS is increasingly available as an asleep procedure.

Increasing confidence in the ability of medical technology to support accurate delivery reduces the need for the patient to be conscious for verification, greatly reducing stress and improving the patient experience.

Renishaw employs over 4,000 people in 35 countries with 2,200 working in Gloucestershire. It has its headquarters at Wotton-under-Edge.

Picture caption: The Renishaw neuromate robot.

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