Ranging accuracy test of the sonic microstereometric system.

Abstract

We have recently introduced a new type of ultrasonic-based, three-dimensional ranging system for the localization of small handheld surgical tools to be used during operation in open stereotactic brain surgery. This targeting system has now been extensively laboratory tested during thousands of measuring cycles with a CNC-based measuring table. The typical accuracy found in a single direction was 0.4 mm and better. The accuracy vector in space was 0.897 mm (n = 2312). The test-retest accuracy was typically 0.4 mm. With the given accuracy, the system is suitable for all ranging tasks in open stereotactically guided microsurgery.