Fibretek

Stereotactic methods have been used successfully for the treatment of a wide range of neurological disorders. Difficulties experienced with some other systems are their cumbersome head frames, the time consuming positioning procedures, and trauma caused to the patient. Not all hospitals can afford neuro-navigational systems. The CTSP was developed at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, (http://www.uct.ac.za/depts/neursurg/) in order to overcome these aspects and at the same time make stereotaxy available to a broader base of neurosurgeons and hospitals.

	The CTSP received a 1997 South African Bureau of Standards Design Institute Award in Engineering Design		The CTSP is a fully portable stereotactic system and uses stereophotogrammetric principles, with either CT or MRI as the imaging medium to determine the precise position of a brain target. The aiming device consists of a tripod through which the surgical cannulae are passed. A halo containing three radio opaque markers is attached to the patients cranium at a pre-determined position and locates the tripod into position - there is no head frame as such. A mechanical "phantom" is used to re-create the 3D geometry with respect to the lesion and the tripod.

Scanner images of the area of interest, including the markers and brain target, are obtained and 3D rectangular co-ordinates (x,y and z) of these are formulated using basic scanner software.

The guidance system has an accuracy within 1-2 mm. Dedicated Microsoft Windows® based software is included with the CTSP system.

Biopsy and aspiration probes are provided as part of the system.

what users have to say about the CTSP

"fully portable"

Biopsy of intracranial mass lesions has been the most frequent indication in use of the CTSP. The system has also been used to place catheters, for brachytherapy when surgery was not feasible and for the aspiration of abscesses and tumour cysts. Guide tubes of various sizes are fitted to the tripod, which facilitate the use of other probes such as burr-hole drills, endoscopes and haematoma evacuators. Patients have ranged from 2 months to 80 years.

"capital cost... is less than 30% of other... frame based systems"

Considerable interest has been shown in the CTSP, because of its relative portability, simplicity and affordability, particularly at hospitals where at present patients requiring treatment involving stereotaxy are referred to other centres. Moving of the patient between scanner and operating rooms is also made easier. Although the guidance tripod and "phantom" are calibrated items, no routine maintenance is required. The capital cost of the CTSP system is less than 30% of conventional stereotactic frame-based systems.

The CTSP has been in clinical use at many hospitals in Africa and India for 14 years. The system is easy to use and requires no maintenance.

To read more about the development and clinical use of the CTSP, click here