An augmented reality system for maxillo-facial surgery

Abstract

Maxillo-facial surgery is a surgical field where surgical planning and navigation tools are commonly used but there is still a visualization gap among planned surgical activities and those in the operating room. We propose an Augmented Reality platform that includes a planning module and a drill guidance system. Some laboratory tests on 3D printed mandibles have been carried out in order to evaluate the system guidance uncertainty with different sets of fiducial points. The obtained mean value of guidance uncertainty has been of 1.37 mm when 2 anatomical points and 3 implanted screws were used and 1.43 mm when 5 anatomical points were used. The use of three fixed screws reduces the system mean guidance uncertainty and surgeons judged the augmented reality technology helpful in this kind of surgical procedures.