Interactive CT/MRI 3D Fusion for cerebral system analysis and as a preoperative surgical strategy and educational tool

Abstract

Introduction: The development of systems that merge existing technologies with gathered data may bring some spectacular effects that are usable both in preoperative and educational processes. Augmented reality (AR) is one of the key aspects of the new medical approach. Newly fused data sets draw from it and give users a better overall experience. Aim: The main goal of this study was to enable the interactive presentation of patients’ CT and MRI combined data with the incorporation of AR tools considering the accuracy of the data with an emphasis on vascular structures. Material and methods: The registration method, reconstruction of the vascular system using tubular structures, and error analysis using surface distance measurements results were used in the system to provide accurate combined information about bony structures from CT volume and vascular objects and cerebral vessels from MRI. Results and discussion: The strategies concern a series of CTI volumes that could be used to analyze bony surgical procedures. The methods are preferred, especially to the most complicated and individually modified bony structures of the skull. Removing, replacing, or modifying these bony structures or elements of the skull could be used as an analysis of operating procedures at the particular stages of the operation during neurosurgical or otolaryngological techniques. Conclusions: Presented study regarded to an innovative system consisting of a CT and MRI datasets fusion. The distance analysis of the segmented vascular model and proposed method for stabilization of the human head combined with virtual sculpting technique. In conclusion, it was meaningful in many aspects of the scientific-technological merge.