CRANIO—computer-assisted planning for navigated and robot-assisted surgery on the skull

Computer-assisted planning, navigation, and robotic craniotomy, with optional skull reconstruction using customized implants are of increasing clinical interest in craniofacial and neurosurgery. The aim of the CRANIO project presented in the first part of this paper is to develop a system that integrates the entire surgical process, from planning, customized implant manufacturing, optional robot programming, up to intraoperative navigation and robot-assisted execution. In the second part of the paper, we present new algorithms developed in the framework of CRANIO project. This work is especially related to the manipulation of 3-D geometry data of the skull for planning and definition of craniotomy. The results of our work are presented, together with results and objectives for further development. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]