Geometric Atlas of the Middle Ear and Paranasal Sinuses for Robotic Applications

TL;DR

This paper develops a detailed geometric atlas of the middle ear and paranasal sinuses to aid in the design and optimization of endoscopic robotic surgical tools, accounting for patient variability.

Contribution

It introduces a novel geometric atlas based on patient scans, providing a precise workspace model for robotic applications in otolaryngology.

Findings

Average sizes of surgical workspaces determined

Atlas accounts for variability across ages and sexes

Supports robotic surgical planning and design

Abstract

In otolaryngologic surgery, more and more robots are being studied to meet the clinical needs of operating rooms. However, to help design and optimize these robots, the workspace must be precisely defined taking into account patient variability. The aim of this work is to define a geometric atlas of the middle ear and paranasal sinuses for endoscopic robotic applications. Scans of several patients of different ages and sexes were used to determine the average size of these workspaces, which are linked by the similar use of endoscopes in surgery.