Intraoperative optical imaging of functional brain areas for improved image-guided surgery

Intraoperative optical imaging of intrinsic signals can improve the localization of functional areas of the cortex. On the basis of a review of the current state of technology, a setup was developed and evaluated. The aim was to implement an easy-to-use and robust imaging setup that can be used in clinical routine with standard hardware equipment (surgical microscope, high-resolution camera, stimulator for peripheral nerve stimulation) and custom-made software for intraoperative and postoperative data analysis. Evaluation of different light sources (halogen, xenon) showed a sufficient temporal behavior of xenon light without using a stabilized power supply. Spatial binning (2×2) of the camera reduces temporal variations in the images by preserving a high spatial resolution. The setup was tested in eight patients. Images were acquired continuously for 9 min with alternating 30-s rest and 30-s stimulation conditions. Intraoperative measurement and visualization of high-resolution two-dimensional activity maps could be achieved in <15 min. The detected functional regions corresponded with anatomical and electrophysiological validation. The integration of optical imaging in clinical routine could successfully be achieved using standard hardware, which improves guidance for the surgeon during interventions near the eloquent areas of the brain.