Brain Mapping Method Utilizing Rapid Cooling Probe

摘要

Before an epileptic operation, it is necessary to predict complications that might occur after removal of a part of brain, a process which is called brain mapping. For realization of the more reliable and safer examination than electrodes implantation, a novel mapping method is developed and discussed in this paper. Operators examine the brain function from patients' reaction under the condition of brain function is inactivated locally and temporary by cooling local position of the brain. We evaluated the performance of the cooling device with experiments and numerical simulations and confirmed that it provides a good cooling performance without freezing the target surface. An animal experiment using a goat was also conducted and confirmed the possibility of inactivating brain function temporarily by cooling.