Method and apparatus for interrelating the positions of a stereotactic Headring and stereoadapter apparatus

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Accordingly, the primary object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus by which the advantages of the noninvasive stereoadapter apparatus may be utilized during presurgical diagnostic procedures and invasive-type fixed BRW/CRW stereotactic devices may be used during surgical or radiosurgical procedures, with full assurance that the coordinates established for intracranial structures during the diagnostic procedures are reproducible during surgical or radiotherapeutic procedures.
A further object is to provide such a system in which the existing Laitinen stereoadapter apparatus may be utilized for diagnostic procedures and existing BRW/CRW stereotactic headring devices may be used during surgical procedures on the same patient.
A more specific object is to provide a mechanical device for interrelating in reproducible fashion the position of a Laitinen stereoadapter apparatus on a given patient to the position of a BRW/CRW stereotactic headring on the same patient, with the Laitinen and BRW/CRW coordinates substantially exactly aligned, so that diagnostic measurements obtained utilizing the Laitinen stereoadapter may be used for surgery performed with the BRW/CRW headring in place.
As shown more fully below, such objects and advantages are accomplished by the provision of a positioning device having means for exact alignment with the Laitinen stereoadpater, as well as means for mechanical connection with the BRW/CRW stereotactic headring, so that the stereotactic headring may be positioned in precise and known relationship to the stereoadapter.
The positioning device of the present invention is dimensionally configured so that, when the BRW/CRW headring is positioned utilizing such device, the coordinate systems of the Laitinen stereoadpater and BRW/CRW headring will align substantially precisely, by which is meant within about one millimeter, plus or minus.
Diagnostic measurements made with one system then may be used for surgical procedures performed using the other system