Multi-scale Image integration for Surgical Guidance

During surgery, a neurosurgeon must refer to three levels of image information: macroscopic from the patient’s MRI or CT, providing anatomical context of the surgical target; mesoscopic information from a surgical microscope or exoscope providing a highly magnified view of the region surrounding the surgical target; and the most important microscopic information provided by histology samples of excised tissue that must be analyzed in a pathology laboratory. Through precise image registration, this project will integrate MR/CT images, exoscope images, and images from a novel hand-held scanning laser confocal neuro endoscope device that provides histology-equivalent microscopic (AKA Digital Biopsy) images in real time. When integrated within a common framework, these multi-scale data will be visualized using an augmented reality display in real time during the surgical procedure. By registering the Stereoscopic exoscope image with the patient’s 3D MR/CT data, this approach will, for the first time, provide the surgeon with the means to immediately relate data from macroscopic MRI (target points, nerve bundles) to the mesoscopic exoscope view, and will also provide real-time imaging at the cellular level via the Digital Biopsy images. (See Figure 1 Attached).

Faculty Supervisor:

Terry Peters

Student:

Partner:

Synaptive Medical Inc

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Health and Related Sciences & Technology; Manufacturing; Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

The University of Western Ontario

Program: