The design and validation of ultrasound-augmented self-localizing tools for dynamic and adjustable registration and navigation in spinal surgery
department or school: Applied Science, Faculty of
department or school: Biomedical Engineering, School of
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCV
creator: Maclean, Luke Jeffrey
issued: 2025-10-16T21:25:48Z
issued: 2025
related degree: Doctor of Philosophy - PhD
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: Spinal surgery, particularly pedicle screw placement, demands exceptional precision to avoid severe complications such as neurological injury, vascular damage, and mechanical instability. Current navigation techniquesâincluding freehand methods, fluoroscopy, computed tomography (CT)-based navigation, and robotic systemsâoffer varying degrees of accuracy but are constrained by challenges such as high costs, radiation exposure, and workflow disruptions. To address these limitations, this thesis proposes and evaluates an innovative, ultrasound-augmented, self-localizing drill guide that integrates polymer-based capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (poly-CMUTs) for real-time surgical navigation. The research methodology comprised computational simulations, experimental evaluations, and machine learning-based optimizations. Initial benchmarking of existing technologies (Chapter 2) highlighted persistent challenges in achieving a balance between accuracy, cost, and safety in pedicle screw navigation. Computational modeling (Chapter 3) then demonstrated that strategically placed ultrasound transducers could achieve sub-millimetric localization accuracy, providing a foundation for the tool's design. Experimental studies (Chapter 4) validated the accuracy of poly-CMUT transducers in measuring bone surfaces, while machine learning techniques (Chapter 5) significantly improved bone segmentation and registration accuracy. Finally, prototype emulation studies (Chapter 6) confirmed the clinical feasibility of the ultrasound-augmented drill guide, demonstrating its potential to match or exceed the performance of existing systems without the need for ionizing radiation. The findings underscore the clinical and practical implications of integrating ultrasound into surgical tools. The proposed approach offers a radiation-free, cost-effective, and highly accurate alternative to CT-based navigation systems, with broad applicability in spinal surgery and potential extensions …
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/92645
note: The Design and Validation of Ultrasound-Augmented Self-Localizing Tools for Dynamic and Adjustable Registration and Navigation in Spinal Surgery by Luke Jeffrey MacLean B.Eng., McGill University, 2016 M.H.Sc., University of Toronto, 2018 M.D., University of British Columbia, 2025 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in The Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies (Biomedical Engineering) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) October 2025 © Luke Jeffrey MacLean, 2025ii The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for acceptance, the dissertation entitled: The Design and Validation of Ultrasound-Augmented Self-Localizing Tools for Dynamic and Adjustable Registration and Navigation in Spinal Surgery submitted by Luke Jeffrey MacLean in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Biomedical Engineering Examining Committee: Antony Hodgson, Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering, UBC Supervisor John Street, Assistant Professor, Orthopaedics, UBC Co-supervisor Christopher R. Honey, Professor and Division Head, Neurosurgery, UBC University Examiner Roger C. Tam, Associate Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Radiology, UBC University Examiner Edmond H. M. Lou, Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering; Adjunct Professor, Biomedical Engineering, Surgery and Radiology, University of Alberta External Examiner Additional Supervisory Committee Members: Robert Rohling, Professor, Biomedical Engineering and Electrical & Computer Engineering, UBC Supervisory Committee Member Edmond Cretu, Associate Professor, Electrical & Computer Engineering, UBC Supervisory Committee Member Andrei Krassioukov, Professor, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, UBC Supervisory Committee Member iii Abstract Spinal surgery, particularly pedicle screw placement, demands exceptional precision…
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
date issued: 2025-11
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0450461
language: eng
degree discipline: Biomedical Engineering
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
scholar level: Graduate
contributor: Hodgson, Antony J.
contributor: Street, John T.
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/92645