No abstract

No abstract

Intra-operative ultrasound (iUS) can generate 2D images in real-time as well as near real-time 3D datasets of the current situation during an intervention. Tracked ultrasound can locate the images in 3D space and relate them to patient, devices, andpre-operative planning data. Therefore, tracked US is an efficient means for controlling the validity of pre-operative planning, recognition of changes (brain shift) during the intervention, replanning of the operational path due to situational changes (iterative navigation), and finally, controlling the results (residual tumor). This paper describes a neuronavigation system exploiting this potential of interventional tracked US for permanent control of intervention progress and iterative adaptation of the planned procedure to the current situation.

SummaryTransoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) requires extensive hands-on training, and it is for this purpose we have designed EchoComTEE, a simulator for TOE. It consists of a manikin and dummy probe; according to the position of the dummy probe (tracked by an electromagnetic sensor), two-dimensional (2D) images are calculated from three-dimensional (3D) data sets. Echocardiographic images are presented side-by-side with a virtual scene consisting of a 3D heart, probe tip and image plane. In this way the trainee is provided with visual feed-back of the relationship between echocardiogram and image plane position. We evaluated the simulator using a standardised questionnaire. Twenty-five experts and 31 novice users participated in the study. Most experts graded the simulator as realistic and all recommended its use for training. Most novice users felt the simulator supported spatial orientation during TOE and, as anaesthetists often do not have training in transthoracic echocardiography, in this group the TOE simulator might be particularly useful.

Abstract. LOCALITE is a frameless neuronavigation system that particularly addresses a problem with current interventional magnetic resonance imaging (iMRI) systems: non-interactive response time in the interactive scan mode and poor image quality with fast scanning sequences. LOCALITE calculates image planes selected via a handheld localizer from pre-or intra-operative volume data sets. This approach provides a really interactive localizer device with high quality images. The volume data are generated after the patient has been brought into the operating room and fixed within the iMRI. Images are part of an enhanced reality scenario containing only the salient visual information for the intra-operative task rather than letting the surgeon drown in lots of images. First studies show that LOCALITE enables the surgeon to use the iMRI system intuitively and much faster.