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NousNav: A low-cost neuronavigation system for deployment in lower-resource settings
Étienne Léger1,2, Samantha Horvath3, Jean-Christophe Fillion-Robin3
1Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA. etienne.leger@mail.concordia.ca.
Summary
NousNav is an open-source, low-cost neuronavigation system designed to improve healthcare access in resource-limited areas. This affordable system is reproducible, enabling local healthcare providers to operate advanced surgical navigation tools.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Medical Technology
- Global Health
Background:
- Neuronavigation systems are crucial for precise surgical procedures.
- High costs and complexity limit the adoption of advanced neuronavigation in lower-resource settings.
- There is a need for accessible and affordable surgical navigation solutions globally.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop NousNav, a low-cost, open-source neuronavigation system.
- To democratize access to high-quality healthcare in resource-limited environments.
- To provide a model for local replication and operation of neuronavigation technology.
Main Methods:
- Utilized open-source principles and off-the-shelf components for affordability and reproducibility.
- Designed software specifically for low-resource settings and ease of use.
- Focused on hardware and algorithm design for robustness, ruggedness, and modularity.
Main Results:
- Developed a functional prototype of the NousNav system.
- Achieved intuitive intraoperative control with a clean and simple interface.
- Enabled operation by clinicians or nurses, reducing the need for dedicated technicians.
Conclusions:
- Demonstrated the feasibility of creating a robust, affordable, and user-friendly neuronavigation system.
- The NousNav system can be reproduced and operated locally in diverse settings.
- This innovation has the potential to significantly enhance surgical care in underserved regions.
