Usefulness of an intraoperative electrophysiological navigator system for subthalamic nucleus surgery in Parkinson's disease.

Objects: The characteristics and benefits are presented of an intraoperative neurophysiological navigator computerized system developed in our center (Columbus-Track 1.0) that helps the surgical team in neuronal identification and in strategy processes in subthalamic nucleus surgery for Parkinson's disease (PD).

Methods: The navigator consists of three assembled parts: (1) neuronal identification, based on wavelet processing, filtering and gaussian characteristics of the signal; (2) track identification, based on anatomical coincidence, somatomotor response and microstimulation quotient, and (3) strategy, coordinating correction for the next track.