[BIOPASS hybrid navigation for endoscopic sinus surgery - an assistance system]

Area of Science:

• Medical technology
• Surgical navigation
• Computer-assisted surgery

Context:

• Current navigation systems for functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) rely on CT image registration and do not offer direct visual guidance within the endoscopic video feed.
• Intraoperative orientation and risk reduction remain challenges in FESS procedures.

Purpose:

• To develop a novel, markerless navigation system for FESS, named BIOPASS (Bild Ontologie und prozessgestütztes Assistenzsystem).
• To integrate diverse sensor data into a hybrid system providing navigation information directly within the surgeon's video image, eliminating the need for external tracking.
• To lay the groundwork for advanced intraoperative assistance by structuring surgical workflows and identifying key endoscopic landmarks.

Summary:

• The BIOPASS project is developing a hybrid, markerless navigation system for FESS that integrates various sensor data.
• The system aims to provide direct navigation information within the endoscopic video image, moving beyond traditional CT-based tracking.
• This paper details the initial phase: collecting and structuring surgical phases, identifying video endoscopic landmarks, and conducting a preliminary clinical evaluation.

Impact:

• Establishes a foundation for a new generation of intraoperative navigation tools in FESS.
• Potential to significantly improve surgeon's spatial awareness and reduce risks during endoscopic sinus procedures.
• Paves the way for markerless, integrated surgical guidance systems in minimally invasive surgery.