Ethical considerations regarding applications of technologies are becoming increasingly more important. This as well as varying religious viewpoints concerning this topic are discussed. A general overview on the current state of medical technologies is followed by an example of a typical image processing problem. The next section focuses on robotics applications, i.e. using mechatronic assisting systems in neurosurgical operating rooms. A comprehensive overview on progress in intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging using four different setups with different magnetic designs and field strengths ranging from 0.3 to 3 T exemplifies recent developments in neurosurgery. This Acta Neurochirurgica supplement distills the Joint Convention of the Academia Eurasiana Neurochirurgica and the German Academy of Neurosurgery held in Bamberg, Germany from Sept. 1-3, 2005. The main focus was "Medical Technologies for Neurosurgery" and included imaging, image processing, robotics, workflow analysis, and ethics.

"... Das Buch ist Neurochirurgen, Neurologen und anderen verwandten Disziplinen, aber auch Medizintechnikern, Computerspezialisten und nicht zuletzt Krankenhausdirektoren wärmstens zu empfehlen." Wiener Medizinische Wochenschrift Nr. 15-16/2007

Klappentext

The tremendous progress evolving in medical technologies in recent years increasingly influences our daily neurological practice. Ethical aspects in the application of technologies from differing viewpoints are discussed in detail. Additionally, typical examples for the application of medical technologies in the operating room include image processing, robotic devices, and intraoperative imaging are clearly presented.

Inhalt
Bioethics, technology and human dignity: the Roman Catholic viewpoint.- Robotics and artificial intelligence: Jewish ethical perspectives.- Ethics in the use of new medical technologies for neurosurgery: Islamic viewpoint.- Shadow of Buddhism and Shintoism in neurosurgical practice in Japan.- Current status of medical technology.- Uncertainty in diffusion tensor based fibre tracking.- Robotics in neurosurgery: which tools for what?.- Computer- and robot-aided head surgery.- Telecontrolled micromanipulator system (NeuRobot) for minimally invasive neurosurgery.- Usefulness of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging for glioma surgery.- Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging in neurosurgery: the Brigham concept.- Intraoperative high-field MRI: anatomical and functional imaging.- Intraoperative MR imaging: preliminary results with 3 tesla MR system.