A method to track cortical surface deformations using a laser range scanner

• Published in: IEEE transactions on medical imaging 2005-06, Vol.24 (6), p.767-781
• Main Authors: Sinha, T.K., Dawant, B.M., Duay, V., Cash, D.M., Weil, R.J., Thompson, R.C., Weaver, K.D., Miga, M.I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Accuracy; Algorithms; Artificial Intelligence; Brain; Cerebral Cortex - anatomy & histology; Cerebral Cortex - physiology; Cerebral Cortex - surgery; Cranial; deformation; Elasticity; Geometrical optics; Humans; Image Enhancement - methods; Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted - methods; Image reconstruction; image-guided surgery; Imaging, Three-Dimensional - methods; Information Storage and Retrieval - methods; Laser surgery; Lasers; Movement - physiology; mutual information; Neurosurgery; Pattern Recognition, Automated - methods; Phantoms, Imaging; Protocols; registration; Stress, Mechanical; Studies; Surface emitting lasers; Surface reconstruction; Surface texture; Surgery, Computer-Assisted - instrumentation; Surgery, Computer-Assisted - methods; Two dimensional displays
• ISSN: 0278-0062; 1558-254X
• DOI: 10.1109/TMI.2005.848373

This paper reports a novel method to track brain shift using a laser-range scanner (LRS) and nonrigid registration techniques. The LRS used in this paper is capable of generating textured point-clouds describing the surface geometry/intensity pattern of the brain as presented during cranial surgery. Using serial LRS acquisitions of the brain's surface and two-dimensional (2-D) nonrigid image registration, we developed a method to track surface motion during neurosurgical procedures. A series of experiments devised to evaluate the performance of the developed shift-tracking protocol are reported. In a controlled, quantitative phantom experiment, the results demonstrate that the surface shift-tracking protocol is capable of resolving shift to an accuracy of approximately 1.6 mm given initial shifts on the order of 15 mm. Furthermore, in a preliminary in vivo case using the tracked LRS and an independent optical measurement system, the automatic protocol was able to reconstruct 50% of the brain shift with an accuracy of 3.7 mm while the manual measurement was able to reconstruct 77% with an accuracy of 2.1 mm. The results suggest that a LRS is an effective tool for tracking brain surface shift during neurosurgery.