T-Phantom: a New Phantom Design for Neurosurgical Robotics

Abstract

In this paper we propose a novel phantom design for measuring application accuracy of neurosurgical robotic systems and stereotactic frames. We develop a novel phantom (T-Phantom) which enables simultaneous localization of translational displacements in entry and target points. The phantom consists of multiple trajectories positioned around a localizer feature simulating approach trajectories in neurosurgical procedures on the intracranial space. Each trajectory consists of two parallel and coaxial hollow cylinders printed in selective laser sintering technology. We apply a stereo vision measuring method for precise measurements of translational displacements in target and entry positions. The paper further provides a systematic comparison of phantom designs originating from stereotactic frames and neurosurgical robotic systems. To the author's knowledge, the developed T-Phantom is the first stereotactic phantom which enables simultaneous measurements both in deviation from target and entry positions and angular deviation from the planned trajectory.