Robotic application in epilepsy surgery

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Robotics in Medicine
• Epileptology

Background:

• Epilepsy surgery requires precise patient selection, localization, and technique for cost-effectiveness.
• A novel robotic system is introduced for epilepsy surgery, marking its first application in this field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a new robotic system for epilepsy surgery.
• To assess the robot's capability in localizing the temporal horn and placing depth electrodes.

Main Methods:

• Brain imaging was performed for image guidance and robotic system integration.
• The robotic system utilized CT-visible reflective fiducials for registration with an image-guided surgery (IGS) system.
• The robot was employed to insert depth electrodes for intra-operative epileptic focus localization and temporal horn identification.

Main Results:

• The robotic technique was successfully applied in three epilepsy surgery patients.
• The catheter tip accurately reached the temporal horn in all cases.
• Significant operating time savings were observed compared to previous surgical experiences.

Conclusions:

• The robotic system is feasible for precise temporal horn localization and depth electrode placement in epilepsy surgery.
• This robotic approach offers enhanced precision, consistency, and potential time savings.
• The findings support the integration of robotics for improved outcomes in epilepsy surgery.