Development of a real time 3D surgical scene for natural orifice endoscopic surgery

Abstract

Biomedical Engineering is the most common field of sciences that relates to both

doctors and engineers. With numerous biomedical challenges ahead, the bridging

cooperation between doctors and engineers is growing in importance.

The objective of this project is to research, design and develop a Real Time Three-

Dimensional (3D) Surgical Scene for Natural Orifice Transluminal Endoscopic

Surgery (NOTES). An accurate and sensitive system, that permits complex 3D

visualisation and have no discernible lag are the main advantages, which spur

developers and surgeons into research and development of such therapy procedure,

known as Image Guided Therapy (IGT).

Using magnetic position and orientation sensors, which are affixed to a flexible

endoscope, 3D coordinates and orientation of the distal tip of the endoscope are

known. From pre-operative medical imaging means, a 3D scene of the phantom

could be created. By identifying appropriate landmarks, intra and pre-operative 3D

scenes could be merged. The surgeon would have a real time view to visualise the

position and orientation of the flexible scope (tracked tool) within the body.

Intra-operative module (tracking system) would be the author’s main focus of the

report. CT scans would be the referencing images. The softwares used are IGSTK

and 3D Slicer. Main hardware is the NDI's Aurora® System. They will be built and

integrated using Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 and Cross Platform Make (CMake).

OpenIGTLinkTrackerBroadcasting application in IGSTKSandbox helps to connect

3D Slicer and Aurora® System (via OpenIGTLink IF and NeuroNav modules).

The final product of this project is being established when feasibility of IGT

Navigation System and Data Registration are demonstrated. With fine tuning, it can

be applied in relation to “Real Time Three-Dimensional (3D) Surgical Scene for

Natural Orifice Endoscopic Surgery”, whereby its needs are closely met.