Abstract
BACKGROUND: Connectomic modeling studies are expanding understanding of the brain networks that are modulated by deep brain stimulation (DBS) therapies. However, explicit integration of these modeling results into prospective neurosurgical planning is only beginning to evolve. One challenge of employing connectomic models in patient-specific surgical planning is the inherent 3D nature of the results, which can make clinically useful data integration and visualization difficult. METHODS: We developed a holographic stereotactic neurosurgery research tool (HoloSNS) that integrates patient-specific brain models into a group-based visualization environment for interactive surgical planning using connectomic hypotheses. HoloSNS currently runs on the HoloLens 2 platform and it enables remote networking between headsets. This allowed us to perform surgical planning group meetings with study co-investigators distributed across the country. RESULTS: We used HoloSNS to plan stereo-EEG and DBS electrode placements for each patient participating in a clinical trial (NCT03437928) that is targeting both the subcallosal cingulate and ventral capsule for the treatment of depression. Each patient model consisted of multiple components of scientific data and anatomical reconstructions of the head and brain (both patient-specific and atlas-based), which far exceed the data integration capabilities of traditional neurosurgical planning workstations. This allowed us to prospectively discuss and evaluate the positioning of the electrodes based on novel connectomic hypotheses. CONCLUSIONS: The 3D nature of the surgical procedure, brain imaging data, and connectomic modeling results all highlighted the utility of employing holographic visualization to support the design of unique clinical experiments to explore brain network modulation with DBS.