A device for optimal registration in navigated procedures near the petrous bone

Abstract

The need for navigated procedures stems from the demand of higher accuracy. An important factor for this accuracy is the method of registration between the image data and the tracking of the patient and the tool. In this work, we investigate the use of registration with a known geometry together with a new device that enables the use of this approach for surgery near the petrous bone. A RoboDent© System was used as a standard navigation platform. We measured the distance between a planned position marked in a phantom with a metal screw and the actual position of the tool. This was done for the standard dental configuration and with a new registration device. In the standard configuration, the deviation was below 1 mm for positions in the jaw, but 6–8 mm for positions near the petrous bone. With the modified Navigation Bow, we could show that the deviation for the petrous bone positions was below 1 mm. This demonstrates the possibility of using a standard RoboDent© navigation system for interventions away from the jaw, for example near the petrous bone, if used with the new registration device.