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S21 Project: ScolAlign

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Yoel Alperin, Parth Gami, Kelly Qiu, Sindhu Kannappan

ScolAlign

 

Non-Radiographic Imaging System for Intraoperative Scoliosis Measurement

The ScolAlign device is a fully-integrated and adjustable measurement system that can be easily positioned in the operating room. The device utilizes a high definition, non-radiographic camera to capture the location of disposable markers that the surgeon can quickly place on top of spinal screws and relevant vertebrae. The device can automatically detect the markers and calculate metrics for spinal curvature and global balance in a time-efficient manner. Through the interactive user interface, surgeons can compare measurements taken throughout the surgery to guide the alignment process.

Scoliosis describes the lateral curvature of the spine in the coronal plane, which can cause postural imbalance and pain. At curvatures above 45 degrees, the scoliotic spine can press on a patient’s lung and heart, causing dangerous complications. Patients with severe scoliosis will undergo spinal alignment surgery—an 8 to 10 hour procedure where screws and rods are inserted into a patient’s spine and used to correct the spinal curvature and imbalance. Spinal alignment metrics include the cobb angle for assessing spinal curvature and plumb line for spinal balance, both of which are currently calculated using radiographic images. Though these measurements are key in quantifying alignment, current methods for assessing these metrics intraoperatively are highly inaccurate as they depend on subjective visual cues, like using makeshift objects (bovie cords, rods, etc.) as references for the correction. The accurate methods that do exist depend on intraoperative radiography, which is timely to set-up and exposes the patient and surgeon to high amounts of radiation. A 2018 study found that 82% of patients who underwent scoliosis surgery did not achieve full coronal alignment potential because of the lack of convenient and accurate intraoperative measurement tools. Our solution, ScolAlign, provides intraoperative measurements through a non-radiographic, automated, imaging system that gives quantitative feedback of spinal alignment to surgeons. To use our device, the surgeon places the high definition camera directly over the incision site. Next, the surgeon places markers on top of the spinal screws and relevant vertebrae, which are automatically detected through our device’s deep learning algorithms. When needed, our device efficiently outputs metrics for spinal curvature and global balance. Throughout the procedure, the surgeon can compare measurements and images taken by our device to guide the alignment process. By providing quantitative metrics, ScolAlign decreases coronal malalignment intraoperatively, thereby improving post-operative patient outcomes.

Kingsley Abode-Iyamah M.D.

Department of Neurosurgery

Mayo Clinic Jacksonville

 

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