Dimensionality Reduction and Electrode Arrangement Optimization for an Electric Field Source Seeking Surgical Navigation Method

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method for precise surgical navigation in brain procedures using optimized electric field measurements and reduced dimensions.

Contribution

The novel contribution is the development of a dimensionality reduction EFSS method with new electrode arrangement metrics for improved surgical accuracy.

Findings

The optimal electrode arrangement achieved an average localization error below 2 mm.

Error was reduced by 56% after optimization using the proposed metrics.

Experimental validation confirmed the method's robustness and consistent performance.

Abstract

This study proposes a Dimensionality Reduction Electric Field Source Seeking (EFSS) method for real-time, high-precision navigation in intracranial puncture surgeries. The method integrates internal localization electrodes and external potential measurement electrodes to minimize surgical trauma while ensuring the accurate localization and guidance of surgical instruments. To optimize the electrode arrangement, two evaluation metrics—Mean Response Coefficient (MRC) and MRC-mean—were introduced. The simulation results demonstrated the effectiveness of these metrics, with the optimal arrangement achieving an average localization error below 2 mm and a 56% reduction in error after optimization. Experimental validation was conducted using a brain model with conductivity properties similar to those of human tissue. Localization experiments confirmed the robustness and accuracy of the EFSS method, with all results showing consistent repeatability and monotonic trends in performance across different electrode configurations. This study highlights the potential of the dimensionality reduction EFSS method as a novel and effective approach for navigation in minimally invasive intracranial surgeries.

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