Brain tumor surgery using Niic ultrasonic surgical aspirators (NUSA)

Ultrasonic surgical scalpels have recently been used for brain tumor surgery. The Niic ultrasonic surgical aspirator (NUSA) was developed in conjunction with Nippon infrared industries Co., LTD. (NIIC) . The instrument consists of a handpiece and a control and power console. The“NUSA”has no cooling system because the ultrasonic power is generated by plumbi zircon titanate (PZT) . Thus, the handpiece is very light (150, 160 gram) and can be manipulated with one hand like a regular suction tube. So, the“NUSA”and a bipolar coagulator can be used simultaneously. Furthermore, an irrigation tube is attached to the suction tube in parallel, and can be moved around the suction tube. Targetted irrigation is thus possible with this new system. The“NUSA”has been used in 150 cases to date. The tumors treated have included gliomas, meningiomas, neurinomas and metastatic tumors. The“NUSA”facilitated the removal of tumors, reduced intraoperative bleeding and shortened the operating time. The handpiece can be manipulated under an operating microscope and is very useful for the removal of tumors even in the cerebello-pontine angle or the ventricular systems.