How a Tiny Device Could Transform Fetal Surgery with Aimen Shaaban, MD

How a Tiny Device Could Transform Fetal Surgery with Aimen Shaaban, MD

Author: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine May 26, 2026 Duration: 20:18

Fetal surgery can be lifesaving for babies diagnosed with complex conditions before birth, but it comes with significant challenges, including limited ability to monitor the fetus in real time. A Northwestern Medicine team has developed a first-of-its-kind flexible probe, designed for continuous real-time fetal monitoring during surgery.  

This innovation is the result of a collaboration between Northwestern University bioelectronics pioneer John Rogers, PhD, and Aimen Shaaban, MD, director of the Chicago Institute for Fetal Health. In this episode, Shaaban explains how the device works, how the collaboration took place and what it will take to bring this technology out of the lab and into clinical care. 


Tune into Breakthroughs for a direct line to the labs and minds at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Each episode pulls back the curtain on the process of discovery, letting you hear directly from the researchers themselves as they explain the questions that keep them up at night and the moments of insight that change everything. This isn't just about announcing findings; it's about understanding the human effort behind them. You'll get a clear sense of how a single study can ripple out, influencing treatments and shifting our entire approach to wellness. The conversations in this podcast are grounded in the belief that transforming medicine starts with asking better questions. From detailed explorations of cellular mechanisms to broader discussions on public health, the content connects the dots between specialized science and its real-world impact. Listen for thoughtful dialogue that makes complex topics accessible, always pointing toward a future where health is improved for entire communities. Produced by Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, this series is for anyone curious about the tangible steps science is taking right now to create a healthier tomorrow.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Breakthroughs
Podcast Episodes
Decoding Long COVID's Impact on the Brain with Igor Koralnik, MD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:02
Our understanding of how viral infections can affect the brain has changed dramatically in recent years, and the COVID-19 pandemic and research into long COVID has accelerated some of this new knowledge. Igor Koralnik, M…
Improving Imaging of the Spinal Cord with Molly Bright, DPhil [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:54
A novel functional MRI (fMRI) technique has been developed by Northwestern Medicine investigators to more accurately assess blood flow in the spinal cord. In this episode, Molly Bright, DPhil, explains how his noninvasiv…
The Art and Science of Bedside Medicine with Brian Garibaldi, MD [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:13
Brian Garibaldi, MD, the founding director of Northwestern Medicine's new Center for Bedside Medicine, discusses the importance and future of bedside medicine. A renowned pulmonologist and medical educator, Garibaldi add…