A concept for a 3D-printed patient-specific stereotaxy platform for brain biopsy -a canine cadaver study

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Neurosurgery
• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Device Design

Background:

• Intracranial lesion treatment necessitates accurate diagnosis and therapeutic strategies.
• Stereotactic tumor biopsy is a safe neurosurgical procedure with predictable outcomes and minimal complications.
• Current stereotactic methods may lack precision and adaptability for diverse anatomical conditions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate a novel stereotactic biopsy method utilizing patient-specific 3D-printed platforms in dogs.
• To assess the precision and feasibility of this new system in canine cadavers.
• To evaluate the potential of 3D printing in advancing small animal neurosurgery.

Main Methods:

• Individualized stereotactic platforms were designed based on 3 Tesla MRI scans of canine cadavers (Shih Tzu and Labrador).
• Platforms were additively manufactured using ABS M30 material.
• Pre- and intra-operative CT scans were used to compare planned versus achieved needle positions for precision analysis.

Main Results:

• The stereotactic system achieved high precision, with target point variations ranging from 0.09 mm to 0.48 mm.
• Manufacturing time for each platform ranged from 480 to 700 minutes.
• The system demonstrated suitability for small animal neurosurgery, offering potential for increased speed and accuracy.

Conclusions:

• Patient-specific 3D-printed stereotactic platforms are a viable tool for canine neurosurgery.
• This technology offers enhanced precision and reliability compared to existing systems.
• The method simplifies the procedure by omitting complex anatomical adaptations, ensuring safety and effectiveness.