Validation of the PathFinder neurosurgical robot using a phantom

Area of Science:

• Neurosurgery
• Medical Robotics
• Surgical Navigation

Background:

• Minimally invasive surgery (MIS) relies on advancements in neuro-imaging and stereotactic technology.
• The increasing miniaturization of neurosurgical procedures necessitates enhanced precision beyond current human capabilities.
• Neurosurgical robotics represents the next evolutionary step in the field.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the performance of a novel robotic system for neurosurgical applications.
• To compare the accuracy of the robotic system against established frame-based and frameless stereotactic technologies.
• To assess the system's efficacy in a controlled neurosurgical phantom environment.

Main Methods:

• Nineteen distinct targets were accessed using two standard stereotactic frames (CRW and ZD), the Stealth Station frameless system, and the new robotic system.
• A human skull replica phantom was utilized, featuring 10 surface and 9 deep targets.
• Performance was measured by application accuracy for each navigation modality.

Main Results:

• The robotic system demonstrated superior performance across all experimental conditions.
• Achieved application accuracies were: 0.5 mm for the robot, 0.98 mm for stereotactic frames, and 1.96 mm for the frameless system.
• The robotic system significantly outperformed both frame-based and frameless navigation methods.

Conclusions:

• The robotic system matched the accuracy of stereotactic frames without their inherent technical limitations or manual adjustments.
• The robotic system exhibited near-absolute geometric accuracy and consistent reliability for repetitive tasks.
• The robotic system offers potential advantages in terms of reduced fatigue, consistent performance, and resilience to environmental hazards.