Fluoroscopy-based navigation in computer-aided orthopaedic surgery

L. Joskowicz

School of Computer Science and Engineering, 
The Hebrew Universtity of Jerusalem, ISRAEL


Abstract: 
 
We present a summary of the state of the art of fluoroscopy-based systems
in computer-aided orthopaedic surgery (CAOS).  The goal of CAOS is to
improve the surgeons' performance in surgeries where intraoperative X-ray
fluoroscopic images are pervasive.  The systems include a real-time
tracking device, a computer with image processing and visualization
software, a fluoroscope connected to the computer via a video frame
grabber, and optionally a robot.  We first motivate the need for CAOS
systems and describe the general principles of fluoroscopy-based
navigation.  We then describe four classes of systems: (1) CT based
systems, (2) fluoroscopy-based systems, (3) CT and fluoroscopy-only
systems, and (4) systems combining fluoroscopy and surgical robots.  We
describe the technical principles of each, evaluate their pros and cons,
and conclude with perspectives.

Keywords: medical systems, medical applications, image registration,
tracking systems, robotics, navigation systems.

Published in: Proc. of the IFAC Conf. on Mechatronics Systems, Darmstadt,
Germany, 2000, Isermann et. al. editors, Elsevier, 2000, pp 235--241.