Fiber-Optic Pedicle Probes to Advance Spine Surgery through Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy

Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy (DRS) can provide tissue feedback for pedicle screw placement in spine surgery, yet the integration of fiber optics into the tip of the pedicle probe, a device used to pierce through bone, is challenging, since the optical probing depth and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) are affected negatively compared to those of...

Development of a CT-Compatible, Anthropomorphic Skull and Brain Phantom for Neurosurgical Planning, Training, and Simulation

Background: Neurosurgical procedures are complex and require years of training and experience. Traditional training on human cadavers is expensive, requires facilities and planning, and raises ethical concerns. Therefore, the use of anthropomorphic phantoms could be an excellent substitute. The aim of the study was to design and develop a...

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, a potential optical sensing technology for the detection of cortical breaches during spinal screw placement

Safe and accurate placement of screws remains a critical issue in open and minimally invasive spine surgery. We propose to use diffuse reflectance (DR) spectroscopy as a sensing technology at the tip of a surgical instrument to ensure a safe path of the instrument through the cancellous bone of the vertebrae. This approach could potentially...

Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy accurately identifies the pre-cortical zone to avoid impending pedicle screw breach in spinal fixation surgery

Pedicle screw placement accuracy during spinal fixation surgery varies greatly and severe misplacement has been reported in 1-6.5 % of screws. Diffuse reflectance (DR) spectroscopy has previously been shown to reliably discriminate between tissues in the human body. We postulate that it could be used to discriminate between cancellous and...

Validation of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy with magnetic resonance imaging for accurate vertebral bone fat fraction quantification

Safe and accurate placement of pedicle screws remains a critical step in open and minimally invasive spine surgery. The diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) technique may offer the possibility of intra-operative guidance for pedicle screw placement. Currently, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is one of the most accurate techniques used to...