Application of the ISYS1 robotic device for stereotactic neurosurgical interventions: a preclinical phantom trial.

Abstract

Submillimetric precision is essential for stereotactic neurosurgical procedures. However, accuracy of standard neurosurgical procedures such as navigated biopsies and shunts is currently limited due to manual alignment of the biopsy needle or manual placement of the shunt catheter. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and accuracy of a novel robotic positioning device for stereotactic neurosurgical procedures. We conducted a preclinical phantom trial to evaluate the accuracy of the iSYS1 robotic device in a representative stereotactic neurosurgical procedure: Robotic guidance of a biopsy needle was compared to standard manual needle trajectory alignment. Biopsies were performed by 7 neurosurgeons of different levels of experience either with robotic trajectory alignment (n=81) or manual alignment using a standard mechanical biopsy arm (n=81) under navigational guidance (Medtronic StealthStation S7). The paper describes the setup, the test methodology as well as the achieved results.