Mechatronical Assistance in the Surgery of Petrous Bone: First Experiences with a Navigation-Controlled Drill

Introduction: High-resolution CT of temporal bone can be used as a basis for three-dimensional representation of at-risk structures (facial nerve, semicircular canal) and preoperative planning. The drill can be registered by 3-D-camera systems. By using the principle of navigated control, the force of the drill can be regulated on the basis of the preoperative planned working space and safety margins. The goal of this study is the investigation of the feasibility and the minimum accuracy of the overall system.