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Robot-assisted intraoperative ultrasound for spine image-guidance

Award Number: R21AR085853
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL & SKIN DISEASES
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/15/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2028

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Robot-assisted intraoperative ultrasound for spine image-guidance - PROJECT SUMMARY Image-guidance has not been widely adopted in open spinal procedures, despite the fact that it improves surgical accuracy and patient outcomes. This is largely because of limitations in patient registration and poor reputation as a direct consequence rather than procedure-specific translation of technology from open cranial applications. We propose to develop patient registration techniques using robot-assisted intraoperative ultrasound to establish accurate, reliable and robust patient registration with respect to preoperative CT images of the spine. There are two specific aims. First, we will develop an automatic and level-wise US-CT registration pipeline so that to enable the use of ultrasound for image-guidance for both minimally-invasive and open spinal procedures as an alternative to intraoperative CT. Second, we will evaluate the effectiveness of these registration schemes using explanted porcine spines and live pigs. The “ground-truth” registration will be established using intraoperative CT and mini screws implanted to exposed vertebrae. Through these efforts, we will compare the relative performances (accuracy, efficiency and robustness) of different patient registration techniques to assess their relative clinical feasibility for practical applications. The proposed research will be facilitated by the newly established PracticePoint at our institution as well as those by the UMASS Chan Medical School for intraoperative navigation and imaging capabilities including intraoperative CT (iCT). We anticipate that by the end of the proposed program, we will create a functioning image-guidance system for spinal procedures to gain an initial understanding of its effectiveness in actual clinical applications.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $368,897 )
2026	2026	WORCESTER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE	100 INSTITUTE RD	WORCESTER	MA	01609	WORCESTER	USA	Arthritis, Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Research	000	1	7/8/2026	NEW	$368,897
														Subtotal = $368,897

Grand Total All Awards = $368,897

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Robot-assisted intraoperative ultrasound for spine image-guidance

Award Number: R21AR085853

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ARTHRITIS & MUSCULOSKELETAL & SKIN DISEASES

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/15/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 06/30/2028

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