Surgical Navigation System for Spinal Surgery with Photoacoustic Endoscopy

This paper introduces the idea of applying photoacoustic (PA) technology for surgical navigation in spinal surgeries, and how we testify it with theoretical analysis and experiments. As a delicate and important operation, spinal fusion surgery requires accurate navigation and proper guidance. PA technology can be a promising option since it is safe and effective in imaging. We explored the feasibility of such application and designed a photoacoustic endoscopy transducer for testing. The fresh goat vertebral tissue was chosen for experiment, with the soft tissues removed. We performed experiments to prove the feasibility of PA technology in this field, and designed a new photoacoustic endoscopy probe for imaging. The images produced during the drilling process are distinct and convincing, which means our new system is efficient and promising for clinical application.