A camera the width of a pinhead could see Bradford become the European centre of a revolutionary approach to treating chronic back problems.

The micro endoscope was part of £250,000 of state-of-the-art medical equipment unveiled at the launch yesterday of the new MERIT Centre, based at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The device - the only one of its kind loaned outside the United States - is inserted directly into a patient's body to give a pinpoint view in colour of spinal problems on a TV monitor.

Consultant anaesthetist Dr Jonathan Richardson, who is a co-director of the centre, has already performed more than 20 spinal endoscopies using the mini camera.

He said: "It's opening up areas of the body which previously could never have been examined. With the micro endoscope the patient can direct you to exactly where the pain is coming from.

"The camera's head is about the size of a pinhead and it's unique in that you can steer it left and right. It's cutting edge technology.

"I use it to diagnose the cause of chronic back pain including sciatica but it can also be used to look into the fallopian tubes or other areas."

The doctor said the endoscope's manufacturer picked the MERIT centre, which stands for Micro, Endoscopy, Research, Innovation, and Training, so doctors from all over Europe could come and be trained to use the camera.

The centre aims to become an international focus for the development of modern 'minimal access' surgical techniques.

Not only will it train present day doctors from around the world in ground-breaking techniques of the future, it will also carry out important research projects and product development work.

The centre's founder, Mr Peter O'Donovan, said: "Many operations which required two days in hospital can now be done as a 'one-stop' visit, involving a 'walk-in, walk-out' procedure lasting only a few minutes.

"Bradford is very much at the front of this new surgical technology and the opening of the MERIT Centre will put the city firmly on the international map for developing new opportunities for this growing field of surgery."

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