Cushing’s disease is a neurological disorder caused by the loss of dopamine secretion in and near the pituitary gland. Unlike in human Cushing’s disease, where surgical removal of the pituitary tumors is a common treatment modality, in horses oral treatment is the treatment of choice. This oral treatment does not provide a long-term solution to the disease, as it is focused on symptom reduction and does nothing to fight the actual cause of the disease.

In collaboration with the department of Veterinary medicine Utrecht, a new paradigm of surgical treatment of Cushing’s disease in horses has been developed that uses the vascular system in combination with an innovative flexible morcellator to reach the pituitary gland. This flexible morcellator incorporates a rigid tip with a resection tool and a flexible shaft, which incorporates a cable drive element, used for actuating the resection tool, and a central tissue transportation lumen.

Further development of this device is necessary before clinical use can commence. Redevelopment should focus on miniaturisation, improving the cutting blade design, and adding a means of visualizing the pituitary tumors.

We are currently also exploring the possibility to redesign this instrument for human surgery.

Contact: Aimée Sakes, a.sakes@tudelft.nl