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Neuroimage Analysis Center: Collaborations |
Neurosurgery |
Oftentimes surgeries are complicated by the similarity in visual appearance of different tissues (such as tumor and healthy tissue), although such tissues have high contrast in some medical images. Better use of the 3D imagery, such as tracking the 3D positions of surgical instruments as well as the patient can improve surgical visualization. Real-time imaging or frequent image updates can provide the necessary corrections for displacements in tissue positions that might occur over time or during surgery.
Computer-based
image guidance utilizes previously acquired images, reducing the inherent
invasiveness of surgery and improving localization and targeting by intraoperative
imaging via ultrasound or more recently MRI. MRI because of its high tissue
contrast and spatial resolution as well as multiplanar and functional imaging
capabilities, has the most appeal for monitoring and controlling therapy.
Open configuration magnets permit full access to the patient and are equipped
with instrument-tracking systems. Thus, MRI provides an interactive environment
in which biopsies, percutaneous and endoscopic procedures, and minimally
invasive interventions or open surgeries can be performed.
Segmentation methods are used for constructing patient specific models,
registration methods for aligning those models with actual views of the patient,
and visualization methods for presenting the registered views to the surgeon.
In this trajectory optimization process, alternative navigational paths and
movements through the physical space are tested and analyzed using a preoperative
model in order to define the safest possible approach with the least possible
damage to normal tissue in such cases as tumor surgery.