title: The computer-assisted localizer, a navigational help in microneurosurgery.
abstract: The computer-assisted-localizer (CAL) achieves a direct linkage between preoperative radiological images and individual intraoperative anatomical findings. Experiences with our system demonstrate that CAL improves the intraoperative orientation and facilitates the neurosurgical procedure. The system described here consists of a mechanical articulated robot arm with six degrees of freedom and a three-dimensional image processor. After calibration, the displayed image dynamically pointed out the exact intraoperative localization in three perpendicular sectional views. Meanwhile, CAL was successfully used in 73 selected microneurosurgical procedures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, University of Technology RWTH Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Spetzger
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Gilsbach
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mösges
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Schlöndorff
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Laborde
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008866:Microsurgery / Q000295:instrumentation*; D009038:Motion; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed