Functional neurosurgery using 3-D computer stereotactic atlas.

To facilitate a full-scale representation of thalamic nuclei and surrounding subcortical structures in the course of stereotactic procedures, a 3-D computer atlas of this region has been created, which permits visualization of the operative field including the involved structures and the position of the instrument. Necessary adaptation is performed according to the position of the intracranial reference points derived from CT-scan. Working with the atlas permitted more accurate and safer surgery.

3-D computer model of subcortical structures of human brain.

Three-dimensional computer model of thalamus and adjacent formations of human brain has been elaborated on the basis of sagittal slices from the Schaltenbrand-Bailey stereotactic atlas. The model includes 120 morphologically distinguishable structures and consists of more than 16 million points (volume elements) each of them being associated with the particular structure in the brain. The model is stored in the long-term computer memory.