Intraoperative Registration and Visualisation for NOTES

Type: IDP (Informatics), SEP (Informatics), or Clinical Project / Clinical Internship (BMC)
Advisor: Nassir Navab, Hubertus Feußner
Supervision by: Tobias Reichl, Armin Schneider

Abstract

Natural Orifice Transluminal Surgery (NOTES) is an increasingly used surgical technique for minimally invasive procedures. Due to limited field of view and restricted motion, orientation of the endoscope can be difficult and navigation systems promise valuable support to endoscopists. In this project, a method is to be developed to register an electromagnetic tracking system with the actual patient position, and an appropriate visualisation method is to be developed. The work will be performed at university hospital Klinikum rechts der Isar, in close collaboration between the groups "Minimally invasive Interdisciplinary Therapeutical Interventions" (MITI, Prof. Feußner) and "Computer Aided Medical Procedures" (CAMP, Prof. Navab). If you are interested or if you have questions, please contact Tobias Reichl.

Clinical Setting

Natural Orifice Transluminal Surgery (NOTES) is an increasingly used surgical technique for minimally invasive procedures, promising "scarless" surgery. However, due to the limited field of view and restricted motion, orientation of the endoscope can be difficult and navigation systems promise valuable support to endoscopists. For the tracking of endoscopes, electromagnetic tracking is clinically established. This work will be performed in close collaboration between the groups "Minimally invasive Interdisciplinary Therapeutical Interventions" (MITI, Prof. Feußner) and "Computer Aided Medical Procedures" (CAMP, Prof. Navab).

Task

First, a method is to be developed to intra-operatively register a pre-operative CT image (or an atlas image of a standard patient) with the actual patient position. Then, an appropriate visualisation method is to be developed for showing the endoscope shape and position in relation to patient anatomy. Accuracy of both registration and visualisation is to be evaluated.

Methods

The work will be performed at university hospital Klinikum rechts der Isar. For the tracking an electromagnetic tracking system will be used. For visualisation, a volume rendering system will be provided. A NOTES phantom is available.

Requirements

• Programming experience in C++ and OpenGL is required.
• Knowledge in computer-assisted interventions, e.g. from lecture "Computer Aided Medical Procedures" is of advantage.