Method and stereotactic apparatus for locating intracranial targets guiding surgical instruments

• US 6,132,437 A
• Filed: 07/14/1999
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ahmet Omurtag, Oguz Cataltepe
• Original Assignee: Ahmet Omurtag, Oguz Cataltepe
• Inventors: Omurtag, Ahmet, Cataltepe, Oguz
• Primary Examiner(s): Philogene, Pedro
• Application Number:
  US09/353,225
• Time in Patent Office: 461 Days
• Field of Search: 606/130, 606/129, 606/1, 606/108, 600/417, 600/429, 33/511
• US Class Current: 606/130
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/11 with guides for needles or instruments, e.g. arcuate slides or ball joints
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 90/39 Markers, e.g. radio-opaque or breast lesions markers

Abstract

A method and an instrument are presented for reliably, accurately and easily locating intracranial targets and guiding surgical instruments to intracranial targets in human patients. An adjustment apparatus and a portable guider 70 constitute main components of the invention. The method and instrument make use of images of natural reference points or fiducial markers found in CT/MRI images of patient'"'"'s head. In accordance with the present method, after the adjustment apparatus is mechanically adjusted based on the information gathered from CT/MRI images, the adjustments are transferred by a special procedure to the portable guider. The portable guider is the only component employed during surgery, resulting in minimal general intrusion with the work of the surgeon.

Claims

1. A method for inserting a neurosurgical instrument in a brain of a human patient comprising the steps of substantially sequentially

(a) identifying a plurality of points on and in a head of the human patient;

(b) gathering data from a plurality of standard radiological images of the head of the human patient;

(c) using a plurality of anatomical landmark or artifical markers attached prior to an imaging study so as to determine coordinates of said points;

(d) preparing an adjusting means by using said coordinates;

(e) removably and noninvasively installing the adjusting means on said anatomical landmarks or artifical markers;

(f) preparing an adjustable means for guiding by using the adjusting means, removing the adjusting means, and removably installing only the adjustable means for guiding on the head of the human patient;

(g) inserting the neurosurgical instrument through the adjustable means for guiding;

whereby a surgeon is able to perform surgery by using only the adjustable means for guiding so that the the adjustable means for guiding may be removed and reinstalled during surgery without losing its function.

2. An apparatus for inserting a neurosurgical instrument in a brain of a human patient comprising

a rigid U-shaped member having approximately L-shaped extensions at both ends;

a guidance assembly slidably affixed to said approximately U-shaped member having approximately L-shaped extensions at both ends;

a rigid approximately U-shaped member which can be removably fixed on a head of a human patient and which is slidably affixed to said rigid approximately U-shaped member having approximately L-shaped extensions at both ends;

a target assembly slidably and rotatably affixed to said rigid approximately U-shaped member which can be removably fixed on a head of a human patient;

a portable guider comprising components whose lengths and relative orientations are adjustable.