GAMMA KNIFE
General Information
What is Gamma Knife?

Gamma Knife Perfexion radiosurgery is the most advanced technology available in radiosurgery and has become the ‘gold’ standard in treatment of brain abnormalities. It is safe, non-invasive, and directs 192 cobalt radiation beams precisely to destroy tumor cells or deactivate growth. Since 2003, the Neurosurgical team at MidMichigan Medical Center has treated over 1,000 patients. With the Gamma Knife, we have the ability to treat conditions such as acoustic neuromas (schwannomas), arteriovenous malformations (AVM), gliomas, meningiomas, metastatic brain tumors, pituitary adenomas, and trigeminal neuralgia (tic douloureux).

Click here to read more about Radiosurgery Systems: Treating Brain Tumors and Abnormalities. This document is provided in PDF format to allow you to easily view and print.
What can Gamma Knife treat?
Gamma Knife can treat the following conditions:
  • Acoustic Neuroma/Acoustic Tumor
  • Arteriovenous Malformations (AVM)
  • Glioma/Glioblastoma/Astrocytomas
  • Meningioma
  • Metastatic Brain Tumor/Brain Mets
  • Pituitary Adenomas/Pituitary Tumor
  • Trigeminal Neuralgia (TIC Douloureux)/TN

For more detail about how Gamma Knife is used to treat a specific condition, click on the condition listed in the navigation on the right.
Why choose Dr. Copeland?
Dr. Brian Copeland is the Medical Director of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery and Senior Staff Neurosurgeon at MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland, MI. Dr. Copeland has over 14 years experience using the Gamma Knife and has treated over 1,000 patients with this technology.

Click here to view Dr. Copeland's Curriculum Vitae.

Medical School
Columbia University, New York, NY

Advanced Training
s General Surgical Residency – University of Minnesota Hospitals, Minneapolis, MN
s Neurosurgical Residency – Neurological Institute of New York, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY

Gamma Knife Training
s Gamma Knife Training Course, Scripps Hospital, San Diego, CA, 1995.
s International Leksell Gamma Knife Society: Various Locations, 2000, 2006, 2008.
s Leksell Gamma Knife Model C Training: MidMichigan Medical Center – Midland, MI, 2003.
s Gamma GammaPlan Advanced Training Course: Norcross, GA, 2003.
s Principles and Practice of Gamma Knife Radiosurgery: Pittsburgh, PA, 2003.
s Leksell Gamma Knife Treatment Reporter Training: Vienna, Austria, 2004.
s Leksell Gamma Plan Advanced Training: Stockholm, Sweden, 2005.
s Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion™ Clinical Introductory Training Course: Marseille, France, 2007.
s Leksell Gamma Knife Perfexion™ Technical and Applications Introductory Course: Stockholm, Sweden, 2007.

Board Certification
Diplomat – American Board of Neurological Surgery

Experience
s Head, Division of Neurosurgery, Scripps Clinic Medical Group, La Jolla, CA
s Chairman, Department of Neurosciences and Chief of Neurosurgery, San Diego Children’s Hospital, San Diego, CA
s Faculty Member, University of California San Diego School of Medicine.
s Gamma Knife Radiosurgery: 14 years experience
s Gamma Knife Procedures: Has performed over 1,000

Representative Presentations and Papers
1. Gallen CC, Aung MA, Waltz TA, Copeland BR, Schwartz BJ: Rapid noninvasive presurgical neuromagnetic mapping of somatosensory cortex.  Presented: Western EEG Society, February 13, 1992.
2. Gallen CC, Schwartz BJ, Waltz TA, Copeland BR, Sobel DS, Aung MA, Bloom FA:  Magnetic source imaging (MSI):  Direct intraoperative verification of neuromagnetic localizations of somarosensory evoked and slow wave fields using a large array biomagnetometer.  Presented:  Society for Neuroscience, April, 1992.
3. Copeland B:  Brain tumors.  In:  Encyclopedia of Human Biology, 2nd edition, Vol. 2, 255-260, 1997.
4. del Zoppo G, Copeland B:  It’s time for a newsletter on thrombolytic therapy.  Thrombolysis update I(1):1-4, 1998.
5. Copeland BR, Mehta R, Kotecha R, Vedula R, Langrill L:  Dose rate and efficacy in gamma knife radiosurgery for trigeminal neuralgia.  Presented: Leksell Gamma Knife Society, Seoul, South Korea, 2006.
6. Factors influencing outcome and complications in Gamma Knife Treatment of Trigeminal Neuralgia. Presented: Leksell Gamma Knife Society, Quebec, Canada, May 2008.

Professional Memberships
 s American Medical Association
s American Association of Neurological Surgeons
s American College of Surgeons
s Congress of Neurological Surgeons
s San Diego Academy of Neurological Surgeons
s American Association of Neurological Surgeons-Vascular Section
s American Association of Neurological Surgeons-Section on Tumors
s Leksell Gamma Knife Society
s American Board of Neurological Surgery


Logistics Detail

Accommodations
Out of town patients and their families are offered through the MidMichigan Medical Center Gamma Knife Department a complimentary one-room stay at a local hotel. This avoids long and tiring trips to and/or from home for consultation and treatment.

MidMichigan patients and their families are also offered the following services:

  • A shuttle service 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. within the Midland City Limits and to the MBS airport.
  • A free continental breakfast from 6:30 to 10:00 a.m.
  • Other amenities offered are a heated pool, hot tub and a playground area for children.

Meals
Patients and family members are welcome to use the hospital’s cafeteria.  Food may also be brought into your private waiting room.

Airport Access
MBS International Airport in located about 20 minutes from the MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland and is served by United and Delta Airlines.  The 24 hour shuttle service also offers transportation to and from the Medical Center.

Jack Barstow Municipal Airport is located in Midland and can accommodate most private planes.
If you live far away and cannot afford to fly to Midland, please ask our Gamma Knife Nurse Coordinator about some volunteer organizations that may be able to help with the cost.

 
Click here to visit MidMichigan Medical Center-Midland to learn more about Dr. Copeland and Gamma Knife.
 
Click here to access Frequently Asked Questions for Gamma Knife Surgery. It is provided in PDF format for your convenience to view and print.
 

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