Neurosurgical robotic system for brain tumor removal.
OBJECTIVE
Brain tumor (e.g., glioma) resection surgery, representing the first step for many treatments, is often difficult and time-consuming for neurosurgeons. Thus, intelligent neurosurgical instruments have been developed to improve tumor removal.


METHODS
The concept and robotic structure of intelligent neurosurgical instruments were introduced. These instruments consist of a surgical robot, a master device and operating software. The robot incorporates a surgical motion base and tool manipulator, including a volume control suction tool. Open Core Control software was developed for connecting intelligent neurosurgical instruments through a network connection and integrating the instruments into a system.


RESULTS
Mechanical evaluation tests on the components and a preliminary system evaluation were performed. A phantom model was fixed on a head frame, and a tumor-removal procedure was successfully performed using prototype intelligent neurosurgical instruments.


CONCLUSIONS
Intelligent neurosurgical instruments are feasible and suitable for on-going evaluation in practical tasks, including in-vivo animal testing.
Arata
Jumpei
J
Nagoya Institute of Technology, Gokiso-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8555, Japan. jumpei@nitech.ac.jp
Tada
Yasunori
Y
Kozuka
Hiroaki
H
Wada
Tomohiro
T
Saito
Yoshitaka
Y
Ikedo
Norio
N
Hayashi
Yuichiro
Y
Fujii
Masazumi
M
Kajita
Yasukazu
Y
Mizuno
Masaaki
M
Wakabayashi
Toshihiko
T
Yoshida
Jun
J
Fujimoto
Hideo
H
D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012984:Software; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018511:Systems Integration