Patent ID: 7651506
Filing Date: 2010-01-26
Classification: A61B,B33Y

Abstract:
1. A device for guiding a craniotomy procedure pre-planned using a virtual model of a head of a subject, comprising: a subject-specific article comprising at least one substantially rigid reference portion, said reference portion having dimensions matching a contour of a first exterior surface portion of the head of the subject to be treated, wherein said reference portion dimensions are derived from head surface dimensions of a virtual model of the head of the subject, said article rigidly and replaceably attachable to said first surface portion exclusive of fasteners anchored to tissue of the subject underlying said article upon attachment in one configuration, wherein said article upon attachment exclusively resides on a front of a head of the subject in said one configuration, said article including a probe guide emerging from one or more openings in said article, each opening being aligned with a preplanned trajectory for treating one or more target regions inside the head of the subject, said article further comprising at least one custom skin clip or retractor for attachment to at least one surface along a periphery of said one or more openings, and said one configuration providing a customized spatially unambiguous reference for alignment of said one or more openings along said preplanned trajectory for treating said target regions.