Application of non-linear access paths for MUKNO

• Applicant: Professor Dr.-Ing. Jan Stallkamp
• Subject Area: Measurement Systems ; Medical Physics, Biomedical Technology ; Production Systems, Operations Management, Quality Management and Factory Planning
• Term: from 2010 to 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 179880849

The objective of this project is to create the preconditions for applying non-linear minimally invasive access paths at the otobasis. An important aspect is to develop a drill which can apply non-linear paths in the scull. Existing drill systems for surgery nowadays only suggest linear drill paths as it is not possible to position and to fix the drills behind non-linear sections so far, even when using flexible drive concepts. One objective of this project is therefore to develop a drill capsule that can anchor itself anywhere in the drill canal and which has a feed and alignment mechanism. To allow the drilling of the path analog the planning data it is essential to initially position the drill capsule. Furthermore, the positioning unit has to be adapted to demands resulting from the task to generate non-linear drill paths, e.g. the positioning and alignment of the drill capsule.To secure the drill process carried out with the newly developed drill capsule and to reduce the risk of damaging sensitive structures further, measurement concepts will be examined. Therefore, parameters like bone density, temperature and the distance to the next sensitive structure are analyzed regarding their relevance for the safety of the process and regarding methods to capture these parameters which can be integrated into the drill capsule.

• DFG Programme: Research Units
• Subproject of: FOR 1585: Multiport Bone Surgery at the Otobase