COMPUTER-ASSISTED NEUROSURGERY SYSTEM - WAYNE STATE-UNIVERSITY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CONFIGURATION

Computer-assisted neurosurgery uses the latest technological advanceme nts in imaging, computers, mechanics, and electronics to improve the a ccuracy and reduce the invasiveness and risk of neurosurgical procedur es. We describe the Wayne State University, Detroit, Michigan, compute r-assisted neurosurgical system with the emphasis on software and disc uss the theory guiding the development of this system and its applicat ion in real-time position tracking systems. Our system consists of the Neurological Surgery Planning System (NSPS) software which we develop ed at our medical center and three types of position tracking systems: the Zamorano-Dujovny (Z-D) arc digitizer for frame-based procedures, an articulated arm, and an infrared-based digitizer for frameless proc edures. The NSPS software is designed to offer neurosurgeons a safe an d accurate method to approach intracranial lesions by preoperatively p lanning a surgical trajectory. Software consisting of the most advance d technologies in computer vision, computer imaging/graphics, and ster eotactic numeric analysis forms the core of the system. Capabilities f or correlating data from imaging studies to facilitate image reconstru ction, image mapping, and three-dimensional (3D) visualization of targ et volumes enable the neurosurgeon to simulate surgical procedures int o a preoperative protocol to be used during surgery, both to follow th e preplanned trajectory and to track the position of surgical instrume nts in real-time on the computer monitor. The tracking systems positio n and orient the surgical instruments relative to the patient's head. With these devices, the display of the surgical instruments together w ith the virtual images create an excellent intraoperative tool.