The micro-laserbot: an alternative method for frameless stereotactic localization.

An alternative method for frameless stereotactic localization which combines an articulating arm for spatial positioning with a three-dimensional laser beam localization technique will be presented. The moveable segments of the arm are counterbalanced, and allow it to smoothly glide to a given position. Micro-brakes in the arm joints permit rigid spatial fixation. The proximal end of the micro-laserbot attaches to the operating room table and the distal end, with the laser localizer apparatus, can be either free or attached to the operating microscope around the objective lens assembly. When attached to the surgical microscope, the laser light beams projected on the brain surface are seen while viewing the surgical field through the operating microscope. When used in this mode, the standard surgical microscope is converted into a stereotactic positional device, and the lasers guide the surgeon during the surgical dissection. Intersection of the laser beams indicate the spatial position of targets and volumes which are referenced and seen on the multi-modality computer imaging system. When not attached to the microscope, various other instruments can be affixed to the distal end of the micro-laserbot for stereotactic referencing.