Neurosurgeons at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery in London have performed a historic operation using real-time artificial intelligence to remove a brain tumour from a 48-year-old patient and protect his vision.
The patient, Rhys Hibbert, is the first person in the world to undergo this type of AI-assisted surgery. Without the operation, his eyesight was virtually guaranteed to turn into complete blindness.
The surgical team successfully removed the tumour while leaving Hibbert's sight fully intact. During the procedure, the artificial intelligence system analysed a live video feed of the operation in real time rather than relying solely on pre-operative scans.
Operating in this area of the brain is exceptionally complex because the pituitary gland, surrounding blood vessels, and optic nerves controlling vision are packed tightly together. A mistake of just one millimetre could result in permanent blindness, a stroke, or death.
The AI software provided critical assistance by identifying high-risk areas to avoid, tracking surgical instruments, and monitoring interactions with brain tissue. This gave the neurosurgeons the precise information needed to safely remove as much of the tumour as possible.
Patient reaction and surgical leadership
Following the successful intervention, Hibbert expressed satisfaction with his treatment and highlighted his gratitude at being the first patient globally to undergo surgery within the research trial.
Health Innovation Minister James Frith declared that the operation demonstrated artificial intelligence at its finest, bringing patients innovative medical care that was previously considered unimaginable.
The surgical team was led by Hani Marcus, a consultant neurosurgeon and professor of neurosurgery, alongside Danyal Khan, a surgical resident who directed part of the work.
AI system architecture and research partners
The artificial intelligence technology was developed at University College London's Hawkes Institute by a multidisciplinary research group focused on advancing medical technologies. Dr Sophia Bano, an associate professor of Robotics and AI in the Department of Computer Science at UCL, served as the technical lead for the system.
To deliver precise real-time analysis in a medical device environment, the system runs on the NVIDIA Clara IGX computing platform.
The clinical trial was conducted through University College London Hospitals with joint funding from Google and the National Institute for Health and Care Research. The project also received backing from institutions associated with the Royal College of Surgeons, biomedical research institutes, and NIHR hospitals.
