BIB-VERSION:: CS-TR-v2.0
          ID:: STAN//CS-TR-92-1441
       ENTRY:: August 28, 1994
ORGANIZATION:: Stanford University, Department of Computer Science
       TITLE:: Motion planning in stereotaxic radiosurgery
        TYPE:: Technical Report
      AUTHOR:: Schweikard, Achim
      AUTHOR:: Adler, John R.
      AUTHOR:: Latombe, Jean-Claude
        DATE:: September 1992
       PAGES:: 21
    ABSTRACT:: Stereotaxic radiosurgery is a procedure which uses a beam of
               radiation as an ablative surgical instrument to destroy brain
               tumors. The beam is produced by a linear accelerator which is
               moved by a jointed mechanism. Radiation is concentrated by
               crossfiring at the tumor from multiple directions and the
               amount of energy deposited in normal brain tissues is
               reduced. Because access to the tumor is obstructed along some
               directions by critical regions (e.g., brainstem, optic
               nerves) and most tumors are not shaped like spheres, planning
               the path of the beam is often difficult and time-consuming.
               This paper describes a computer-based planner developed to
               assist the surgeon generate a satisfactory path, given the
               spatial distribution of the brain tissues obtained with
               medical imaging. Experimental results with the implemented
               planner are presented, including a comparison with manually
               generated paths. According to these results, automatic
               planning significantly improves energy deposition. It can
               also shorten the overall treatment, hence reducing the
               patient's pain and allowing the radiosurgery equipment to be
               used for more patients. Stereotaxic radiosurgery is an
               example of so-called "bloodless surgery". Computer-based
               planning techniques are expected to facilitate further
               development of this safer, less painful, and more cost
               effective type of surgery.
       NOTES:: [Adminitrivia V1/RAM/19940828]
         END:: STAN//CS-TR-92-1441