Assessing performance of augmented reality-based neurosurgical training

This paper presents a novel augmented reality(AR)-based neurosurgical training simulator which provides a very natural way for surgeons to learn neurosurgical skills.Surgical simulation with bimanual haptic interaction is integrated in this work to provide a simulated environment for users to achieve holographic guidance for pre-operative training.To achieve the AR guidance,the simulator should precisely overlay the 3D anatomical information of the hidden target organs in the patients in real surgery.In this regard,the patient-specific anatomy structures are reconstructed from segmented brain magnetic resonance imaging.We propose a registration method for precise mapping of the virtual and real information.In addition,the simulator provides bimanual haptic interaction in a holographic environment to mimic real brain tumor resection.In this study,we conduct AR-based guidance validation and a user study on the developed simulator,which demonstrate the high accuracy of our AR-based neurosurgery simulator,as well as the AR guidance mode’s potential to improve neurosurgery by simplifying the operation,reducing the difficulty of the operation,shortening the operation time,and increasing the precision of the operation.

Emerging personalized virtual brain models: next-generation resection neurosurgery for drug-resistant epilepsy?

Recently,a novel workflow known as the virtual epileptic patient(VEP)has been proposed by a research team from Aix Marseille Universitéin their papers published in Lancet Neurology,Science Translational Medicine and Epilepsia.This method involves creating an individualized virtual brain model based on computational modelling,which can facilitate clinical decision-making by estimating the epileptogenic zone and performing the virtual surgery.Here,we summarize brief workflow,strengths,and limitations of VEP,as well as its performance in a retrospective study of 53 patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy who underwent stereoelectroencephalography.A large-scale clinical trial(NCT03643016)is underway to further assess VEP,which is expected to enroll 356 patients prospectively.As supporting evidence accumulates,the clinical application of VEP has the potential to improve clinical practice,leading to better outcomes and qualities of life of patients.