Augmented reality for specific neurovascular surgical tasks

Abstract

Augmented reality has the potential to aid surgeons with particular surgical tasks in image-guided surgery. In augmented reality (AR) visualization for neurosurgery, the live view of the surgical scene is merged with preoperative patient data, aiding the surgeon in mapping patient images from the image-guidance system to the real patient. Furthermore, augmented reality visualization allows the surgeon to see beyond the visible surface of the head or brain at the anatomy that is relevant at different stages of surgery. In this paper, the particular surgical tasks that have benefited from AR visualization by the neurosurgeons that have used our system are described. These tasks include: tailoring a craniotomy, localizing the anatomy of interest, planning a resection corridor and determining a surgical strategy. We present each of these surgical tasks and provide examples of how AR was used in the operating room.