Ultrasonic 3D Navigation System for Real-Time Image-Guided Surgery
Project Leader: Ajay Mahajan
Unit: College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Brief Description:
This invention improves image-guided surgery with the innovative use of ultrasonic sensors. An accurate 3D position estimation system using ultrasonic sensors has been developed for a real-time image-guided navigation system. Accuracies of less than 1.0 mm are currently achievable, with improved accuracy anticipated with additional research and development.
Patent Status:
Patent pending. U.S. patent application no. 20060058615.
Potential Commercial Uses:
There is a critical need for such a system that allows the surgeon to know the exact position of the probe-tip with respect to pre-operative MRI images. Accurate image-guided neurosurgery allows for minimal craniotomy (surgical removal of bone) and smaller wounds, hence quicker recovery time and more accurate approaches to the target, such as a tumor or a foreign object in the brain. Current image-guided systems use bulky camera-based technologies that are space-intensive, have an accuracy of about 1.0-2.0 mm, have line-of-sight problems, and are prone to occasional failures that may be temporary or permanent. Temporary failures during surgery that may be due to hardware problems also often lead to abandoning the use of the system due to complex and time-consuming calibration schemes.
Contact:
Jeff Myers, Senior Technology Transfer Specialist, (618) 453-4543, fax: (618) 453-8038