Neurosurgery targeting and delivery system for brain structures

• US 20050171558A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 08/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Arthur E. Quaid, III, Benny Hagag, Rony A. Abovitz, Thomas Hartkens
• Original Assignee: Arthur E. Quaid, III, Benny Hagag, Rony A. Abovitz, Thomas Hartkens
• Inventors: Hartkens, Thomas, Quaid, Arthur E. III, Abovitz, Rony A., Hagag, Benny
• Application Number:
  US10/967,905
• Publication Number:
  US 20050171558A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 606/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2017/00694 with means correcting for movement of or for synchronisation with the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/107 Visualisation of planned trajectories or target regions
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2034/256 having a database of accessory information, e.g. including context sensitive help or scientific articles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/364 Correlation of different images or relation of image positions in respect to the body
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/365 augmented reality, i.e. correlating a live optical image with another image
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2090/3983 Reference marker arrangements for use with image guided surgery
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 34/20 Surgical navigation systems; Devices for tracking or guiding surgical instruments, e.g. for frameless stereotaxis
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/36 Image-producing devices or illumination devices not otherwise provided for

Abstract

Morphing or fitting a brain atlas to a diagnostic image data set of the patient, or to a patient registered to the brain atlas, is enhanced using measurements of one or more physical characteristics of the brain taken with the aid of an instrument as it is being inserted into the brain. The measurements are then compared against known physical characteristics of certain brain structures, thus permitting correlation of the measured physical characteristic to a brain structure. The brain atlas then may be morphed or deformed so that the identified brain structure in the atlas is at or near the position at which the measurement was taken, as known from the tracked position of the instrument.

Claims

1. A method for morphing or fitting a brain atlas to a diagnostic image data set of the patient, or to a patient registered to the brain atlas, the method comprising

receiving measurements indicative one or more physical characteristics of the brain taken with the aid of an instrument as it is being inserted into the brain;

tracking the position of the instrument;

comparing the measurements against known physical characteristics of certain brain structures, thereby correlating of the measured physical characteristic to a brain structure; and

morphing or deforming the brain at last ed or deformed so that the identified brain structure in the atlas is at or near the position at which the measurement was taken.

2. The method of claim of claim 1, wherein the instrument is comprised of an electrode having one or more selectively extendable micro-electrodes.

3. Computer readable memory storing a computer program which, when read and executed by a computer, causes the computer to undertake the following:

receiving measurements indicative of one or more physical characteristics of the brain taken with the aid of an instrument as it is being inserted into the brain;

tracking the position of the instrument;

comparing the measurements against known physical characteristics of certain brain structures, thereby correlating of the measured physical characteristic to a brain structure; and

morphing or deforming the brain at last ed or deformed so that the identified brain structure in the atlas is at or near the position at which the measurement was taken.

4. A surgical navigation system, comprising:

a localizer for tracking the position of an instrument; and

a computer in communication with the localizer for receiving information from which to determine the position of an instrument;

wherein the computer stores a computer program that, when executed causes the computer to undertake the following process;

receiving measurements indicative one or more physical characteristics of the brain taken with the aid of an instrument as it is being inserted into the brain;

tracking the position of the instrument;

comparing the measurements against known physical characteristics of certain brain structures, thereby correlating of the measured physical characteristic to a brain structure; and

morphing or deforming the brain at last ed or deformed so that the identified brain structure in the atlas is at or near the position at which the measurement was taken.

5. An instrument for probing the brain, comprising an electrode and a plurality of retractable and extendable microelectrodes.