Neurosurgery Imaging Platform Digitizes Surgical Patients

An innovative software platform transforms any given patient’s static computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) images into a realistic, interactive, three-dimensional (3D) computer-based model of that patient.

The Selman Surgical Rehearsal Platform (SRP) allows surgeons to plan and rehearse microsurgical techniques for clipping intracranial aneurysms and extracting brain tumors. Using standard scanned images from any patient, the SRP generates 3D images that enable the accurate modeling of interactions between life-like tissue and surgical instruments; haptic response allows accurate presurgery planning and rehearsal. The unique software utilizes flight simulator technology to permit remote connection of multiple platforms; participants anywhere in the world can simultaneously view and practice the same case with real-time feedback and collaborate on the planning of a specific surgery case.


According to the developers, the practice or warm-up has been shown to benefit both novice and experienced surgeons, and may provide an important new tool in the surgeon’s armamentarium to improve patient safety and outcomes. Research is currently being done on the on utilization of the platform in complex brain-tumor cases; more work is underway to permit rehearsal of other intracranial procedures, including expanded endonasal skull base surgery, microvascular decompressions, and complex spinal surgery. The Selman SRP is a product of Surgical Theater (Cleveland, OH, USA).

“As a surgeon at an academic medical center, being able to collaborate with peers and guide younger surgeons through a complex neurosurgical procedure--on a model with life-like response--in advance of taking the patient to the operating room is ideal. It’s something that just wasn’t possible until now,” said codeveloper of the system Warren Selman, MD, neurosurgeon-in-chief at University Hospitals Case Medical Center (Cleveland, OH, USA). “The ability of the Surgical Rehearsal Platform to allow collaboration and rehearsal is a tremendous advancement in neurosurgical practice and education, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Related Links:
Surgical Theater
University Hospitals Case Medical Center