ArticleNeurosurgical review2025
Curved trajectories in stereotactic neurosurgery: is it feasible?
Article in Neurosurgical review, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
0 citing papers in PubMed.
No citing paper in PubMed yet.
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectiveStereotactic procedures are planned and performed with straight trajectories. However, brain sulci with vessels and ventricles have to be avoided for bleeding and deviation risks. In distinct pathologies such as insular or pineal lesions, or in patients with brain atrophy, curved trajectories theoratically could provide superior results. So far, research on curved trajectories for stereotactic neurosurgery focusses on aspects like path planning, robot design and control. In a collaborative project of engineers, mathematicians, and neurosurgeons a prototype system for curved cannulas was developed using a concentric tube continuum robot (CTCR) platform.
methodsTarget precision and follow-the-leader-deviations by movements of the cannulas were assessed. For a set of automatically planned configurations by numerical optimization, the real robot behavior was compared to state-of-the-art models of elastostatic behavior. Target accuracy was tested with CT-imaging of a head model and a deep-seated target, calculation and transformation of stereotactic coordinates to the actuation system, and application of the curved cannulas to the target.
resultsDetermination of the model's target point via CT-scan and transformation of the stereotactic coordinates in the path planning software for curved trajectories were possible. The technical operation of the prototype was improved for mounting at the stereotactic system. The target could be calculated with optimal accuracy in the panned configuration by numerical optimization and the test procedure could be performed successfully. However, accuracy with curved cannulas in this prototype system had a target point deviation of 2 mm and more.
conclusionsTo the authors' knowledge, this is the first application of curved cannulas for stereotactic neurosurgery in a comparable way to clinical practice. Further research will have to address incorporating iterative learning control of the robot's tip position to reach target point deviations below 1 mm.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.