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Chair of Computer Science 5 (Pattern Recognition)
Martensstr. 3
91058 Erlangen
Germany
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Dipl. Med.-Inf. Jochen Penne
Researcher in the Medical Image Processing group at the Chair of Computer Science 5 (Pattern Recognition)
of the Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nuremberg
Research proposal
Minimal invasive surgery provides several benefits for the patient: by reaching the operation area via small holes the operation becomes less traumatizing and the postoperative regeneration becomes less complicated leading to a faster mobilization. A visualization of the operation area is provided via an endoscope, which might be rigid or non-rigid.
Naturally, the images acquired via an endoscope are 2-D images providing only the 3-D impression which the human brain of the surgeon is able to percept (based on shadows or occlusion of objects). Studies have proven that an intra-operative 3-D visualization of the operation area during a minimal invasive intervention can significantly improve the accuracy of operational planning and the reduce the operation time. Several techniques are available providing an intra-operative 3-D impression. Only few approaches are known which provide metric 3-D information. Due to the computational complexity, at the moment the approaches can not be used intra-operatively.
Jochen investigates a novel technique which aims at providing metric 3-D information intra-operatively by combining a range measuring camera and an endoscope. The measuring of ranges is accomplished by applying the Time-Of-Flight (TOF) principle: an optical signal is send out and from the turn-around time of the signal the traveled distance can be computed (assuming a constant speed of the optical signal). By using the transmission capabilities of a standard endoscope such a range measurement may be done via an endoscope, which is then termed MUSTOF-endoscope. The research is done in close cooperation with the clinical department and the Chair for Computer Graphics and is integrated into the SFB 603 (project B6).
In close cooperation with the Klinikum rechts der Isar in Munich and the University Hospital Erlangen the foundations of applying MUSTOF endoscopes in NOTES (Natural Orifice Translumenal Endoscopic Surgery) procedures are investigated.