BackgroundThis study evaluated the use of an augmented reality navigation system that provides a markerless registration system using stereo vision in oral and maxillofacial surgery.MethodA feasibility study was performed on a subject, wherein a stereo camera was used for tracking and markerless registration. The computed tomography data obtained from the volunteer was used to create an integral videography image and a 3-dimensional rapid prototype model of the jaw. The overlay of the subject’s anatomic site and its 3D-IV image were displayed in real space using a 3D-AR display. Extraction of characteristic points and teeth matching were done using parallax images from two stereo cameras for patient-image registration.ResultsAccurate registration of the volunteer’s anatomy with IV stereoscopic images via image matching was done using the fully automated markerless system, which recognized the incisal edges of the teeth and captured information pertaining to their position with an average target registration error of < 1 mm. These 3D-CT images were then displayed in real space with high accuracy using AR. Even when the viewing position was changed, the 3D images could be observed as if they were floating in real space without using special glasses.ConclusionTeeth were successfully used for registration via 3D image (contour) matching. This system, without using references or fiducial markers, displayed 3D-CT images in real space with high accuracy. The system provided real-time markerless registration and 3D image matching via stereo vision, which, combined with AR, could have significant clinical applications.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12880-015-0089-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

To evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a three-dimensional augmented reality system incorporating integral videography for imaging oral and maxillofacial regions, based on preoperative computed tomography data. Three-dimensional surface models of the jawbones, based on the computed tomography data, were used to create the integral videography images of a subject's maxillofacial area. The three-dimensional augmented reality system (integral videography display, computed tomography, a position tracker and a computer) was used to generate a three-dimensional overlay that was projected on the surgical site via a half-silvered mirror. Thereafter, a feasibility study was performed on a volunteer. The accuracy of this system was verified on a solid model while simulating bone resection. Positional registration was attained by identifying and tracking the patient/surgical instrument's position. Thus, integral videography images of jawbones, teeth and the surgical tool were superimposed in the correct position. Stereoscopic images viewed from various angles were accurately displayed. Change in the viewing angle did not negatively affect the surgeon's ability to simultaneously observe the three-dimensional images and the patient, without special glasses. The difference in three-dimensional position of each measuring point on the solid model and augmented reality navigation was almost negligible (<1 mm); this indicates that the system was highly accurate. This augmented reality system was highly accurate and effective for surgical navigation and for overlaying a three-dimensional computed tomography image on a patient's surgical area, enabling the surgeon to understand the positional relationship between the preoperative image and the actual surgical site, with the naked eye.

Abstract. We present an augmented reality system for oral and maxillofacial surgery in this paper. Instead of being displayed on a separated screen, three-dimensional (3D) virtual presentations of osseous structures and soft tissues are projected onto the patient's body, providing surgeons with exact knowledge of depth information of high risk tissues inside the bone. We employ a 3D integral imaging technique which produce motion parallax in both horizontal and vertical direction over a wide viewing area in this study. In addition, surgeons are able to check the progress of the operation in real-time through an intuitive 3D based interface which is content-rich, hardware accelerated. These features prevent surgeons from penetrating into high risk areas and thus help improve the quality of the operation. Operational tasks such as hole drilling, screw fixation were performed using our system and showed an overall positional error of less than 1mm. Feasibility of our system was also verified with a human volunteer experiment.

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This paper presents a novel surgery navigation system based on a three-dimensional (3D) imaging technique, integral videography (IV). In our system, the 3D structure of the object of interest is reconstructed using surface rendering and corresponding pixel distribution methods. We developed a high-speed algorithm that renders high-quality IV images from the surface model in real time and allows interactions like rotating and scaling to be done smoothly. Using the patient-image registration method, IV images can be displayed with the correct size and relative position with respect to the surgical instruments. Experiments were carried out with various anatomical models, and the results show that our system could be useful in many clinical situations such as orthopedic surgery and neurosurgery.