Toby Peart, 13, from Strathpeffer, was diagnosed with a non-cancerous brain tumour and treated at the Royal Hospital for Children in Glasgow using the B Braun Aesculap Aeos 3D Robotic Assisted Exoscope.
The device, the first of its kind to be installed in Scotland, has been praised for its precision and improved surgical outcomes.
the surgical team with the 3D exoscope at the hospital. (Image: NHSGGC/PA Wire)
His father, Marc Peart, said: “It was without question the hardest few weeks of our lives.
“Toby is a quiet, gentle boy who never complains, so when he told us he was in pain, we knew something wasn’t right.
“Everything happened incredibly quickly.
“One day we were expecting to wait a couple of weeks for MRI results and the next we were being told that Toby had a brain tumour and needed specialist treatment in Glasgow.
“It was a huge shock for all of us.”
Toby first reported pins and needles and pain in his left leg in April 2025.
He had an MRI scan at Raigmore Hospital in Inverness, which found he had a brain tumour, and further investigations confirmed a tumour measuring about 13–14mm on the right side of his brain.
He was referred to the Glasgow facility for specialist treatment, and he underwent surgery in November 2025.
Mr Peart and his wife, Adie, were warned that the operation carried risks, including possible loss of sight or paralysis.
He said: “When Toby came out of surgery, he couldn’t move his left arm or leg and couldn’t feel anything.
“At that point, we didn’t know whether that would be permanent or whether things would improve.
“A few days later, I woke up and saw him using his right hand to lift his left hand into the air.
“He looked at me and said, ‘Dad, quick, look, my fingers are doing finger things.’
“It was one of the most remarkable moments of my life.”
Toby Peart (Image: Marc Peart/NHSGGC/PA Wire)
Toby continued to regain strength with the support of a multidisciplinary medical team.
Mr Peart added: “The care he received was incredible and it was amazing to watch his determination.
“Just a week after surgery, we were told he was ready to go home.
“Walking out of the hospital with Toby was an emotional moment and one we’ll never forget.”
Toby was back at school in January and he’s doing really well.
Roddy O’Kane, consultant neurosurgeon at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “Traditionally, neurosurgery meant working for hours with your eyes fixed to microscope eyepieces.
“This technology allows us to operate upright while gaining views and angles that simply aren’t possible with conventional microscopes.
“For children undergoing brain surgery, that enhanced visualisation can make a real difference.
“The ability to see more clearly and reach more effectively supports safer surgery and, ultimately, better outcomes.”
The exoscope offers “exceptional” image quality, powerful illumination and enhanced depth perception, all of which can contribute to safer and more effective surgery.
It also improves ergonomics for surgeons by allowing them to maintain an upright posture during procedures instead of being hunched over microscope eyepieces for long periods.
Toby Peart is one of the first Scots to undergo brain surgery using new technology (Image: Marc Peart/NHSGGC/PA Wire)
Emer Campbell, clinical lead and consultant neurosurgeon at NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, said: “We’re delighted to have this technology in place.
“Beyond the clear benefits for our patients, we’re already seeing how it enhances teamwork, workflow and training in theatre.”
NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde said it has become the first in Scotland to install the system.
