Multi-mode navigation in image-guided neurosurgery using a wireless tablet PC

The authors present a tablet-based image-guided neurosurgery system that transmits navigation information from a host to a movable tablet PC via a wireless local area network, and displays this information on the tablet screen. With this new system, surgeons can obtain standard navigation information on the tablet screen to avoid large view switching between the surgical field and the navigation screen of the computer monitor. In addition, this system can also provide additional navigation information by displaying arbitrary sectional images and maximum intensity projection images on the tablet screen. These images are generated according to the position and orientation of the tablet screen, and can be used to locate intracranial tumor for preoperative planning and intraoperative procedures in neurosurgery. The average tracking error was approximately 1.25 mm. A dry skull specimen study verified the feasibility of the proposed system. Furthermore, an actual patient's surgery with this system showed its clinical applicability.