Brain Surgeon to Present Status of NASA Collaboration Before Congress March 15

LONG BEACH, CA, March 10, 2011 (Press-News.org) A Southern California brain surgeon, who is collaborating with NASA scientists on the next generation of surgical instruments, will explain how space technology is improving patient care during a presentation before members of Congress at Technology Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C. Internationally renowned brain surgeon Hrayr Shahinian, M.D., a pioneer in minimally invasive brain surgery, will reveal details of a miniature 3D surgical instrument that will allow surgeons to see high-def images of the brain. Such images will help surgeons more precisely remove tumors and correct other abnormalities than current technology allows. The 1-day seminar called, "NASA Technology: Imagine, Innovate, Explore," will be held at the Capital Visitors Center on Tuesday, March 15.

"I am delighted to share the exciting news of how NASA is playing an important role -- ultimately a life-saving role - of helping create the next generation of surgical instruments," said Shahinian, founder and medical director of the Skull Base Institute in Los Angeles. "Our collaboration has already resulted in drastic improvements in instrumentation, which has helped countless patients suffering from acoustic neuromas, meningiomas, pineal tumors and pituitary tumors as well as abnormalities such as hemifacial spasms and trigeminal neuralgia."

"It's important that our legislators and the public in general understand the important work being done by NASA that ventures well beyond the space program," he added. "Ultimately, our lives and our quality of living are impacted by such collaborations."

Shahinian has published more than 80 peer-reviewed papers and a textbook on minimally invasive brain surgery and is considered to be on the vanguard of this development. The validity of Shahinian's minimally invasive approach to brain surgery has stood up to the test of time and now many top medical centers have adopted his techniques including those at Mayo Clinic, UCLA, USC, Johns Hopkins and others. For more information, call the Skull Base Institute at (310) 691-8888 or visit http://www.skullbaseinstitute.com.