Robotics in child neurosurgery

We felt there was a need for a new device with "minimal invasive" tracking hardware, to be used in image-guided neurosurgery, and the system we design ed to fill this need is now presented. It combines precision of movement, s tability and self-positioning capabilities together with optically tracked registration and procedural control within the structure of a surgical micr oscope. The results are reduced setup time and minimal "distraction" from t he procedure itself factors of special relevance in child neurosurgery. The system is composed of a six-axis industrial robot suitable for use in the operating room, carrying a surgical microscope. Three progressive scan-sync hronized infrared cameras mounted around the lenses of the scope are used t o register the patient's position and track surgical instruments with refer ence to the registered space. Orientation of the microscope during surgery is obtained with a six-axis joystick used as a microscope handle. The syste m has been clinically used in 14 cases, and it has proven itself to be reli able, providing the expected performance advantages. The implementation of a tracked ultrasound or endoscope intraoperative imaging source is also des cribed.