Updated: Aug 26, 1998
This is the most recent structured information on this project. Complementary data can be found on previous documents
EASI European applications in surgical interventions

Overview

The EASI-demonstrators help surgeons to locate anatomical structures on the basis of patient images acquired before and/or during surgery. This guidance facilitates minimally-invasive surgery, and potentially improves accuracy and speed, and reduces risks.

Guidance occurs through an optical localiser which measures the position of surgical tools. Once the patient and the pre-operative images have been correlated, the surgical tools can be overlaid on patient images in real-time, showing the surgeon the position and orientation of the tools in relation to the patient's anatomy and pathology.

Purpose and objectives

The following simplified usage scenario applies. The lesion is visualised in 3 dimensions (3D) in its spatial relationship to its anatomical environment (nerves, vessels, organs). A thorough and efficient pre-operative surgical plan is made (based on pre-operative 3D MR, CT and DSA images), transferred to the operating room and onto the patient via registration tools. During surgery, this plan needs to be checked and, if necessary, updated using intra-operative information. This is done by using localiser/motion tracking principles and extending them to include real-time imaging for position verification and/or updating of the plan. Updates of the surgical plan are especially relevant to reduce patient risks and to improve the quality of the intervention when changes have occurred compared to the pre-operative situation, either because of re-oriented anatomy, or as a result of surgery itself.

The project will thus help to improve effectiveness and quality of clinical interventions while reducing patient risks and overall cost of treatment. This goal is reached via added- value services and systems with tools which enhance the capabilities of the relevant clinical healthcare professionals (task HC 2.3). Telematics services are developed and integrated to provide health professionals with an optimal working environment (task HC 2.1) to bridge the gap between radiological diagnosis and new approaches to therapy. At the same time, the project develops and validates advanced techniques to combine 3D imaging technologies, virtual environments and advanced intra-operative navigation tools in therapy planning, quality improvement and minimally invasive surgery (task HC 2.8).

User Needs to be Addressed — Neurosurgery

User Needs to be Addressed — Vascular surgery

The EASI project develops, validates and demonstrates a safe and effective TEAM procedure using pre-operative and intra-operative image guidance. Pre-operative simulation of both graft and surgery will help to predict surgery outcome and contribute to education of trainees in this new technique. The following user needs are addressed: extensive pre-operative (3D) imaging to define the surgical plan, simulation of procedure to see whether the procedure will be successful, intra-operative execution of the plan with intra-operative 2D X-ray imaging, and a possible didactic application.

Results