Importance

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Abstract

This invention relates to skin-based localizer markers that can be placed on the external anatomy of a patient during CT, MRI, or other scanning methods for producing identifiable index marks in stereotactic localization. In a preferred embodiment, the markers are of an annular or axially symmetric geometry, with provision for radiopaque and therefore CT-visible elements and also MRI-visible medium within the marker. The annular shape enables accurate identification of the centroid of the marker in the CT, MRI, or other tomographic image. Because the markers are visible in multi-modal imaging, such as CT and MR, registration of these images or stereotactic indexing can be done from one or both imaging types. In another embodiment, the marker has an index or concave central portion which enables a stereotactic digitized pointer to be placed stably within the indentation during calibration or marker identification in a surgical context. One application of the markers would be for cranial-based, frameless stereotaxy, where a stereotactic digitizing pointer can be used to pick off the positions of the markers in physical space so as to relate the physical space to two-dimensional or three-dimensional imaging data taken from CT or MR scanning.

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First Claim