Biography
Biography: Mulugeta Semework
Abstract
Surgical planning, precise pre-operative positioning of incision sites and instrumentation, biopsy localization and tumor resection planning, looking inside inanimate objects, such as machines, etc. all require the use of common imaging tools. MRI, X-ray and CT scans have been in wide use and continue to be popular. This talk will introduce and discuss a compound (patent pending, IR# CU13187), which is MRI, X-ray and CT scan visible paste that can be applied to any surface and therefore provide an external reference point to an internal structure. It has made our and neighboring lab research efforts much easier and effective. In short, the great advantage of this product is that it shows as the same color in different scan types while common, and mostly of specific utility products such as contrast agents are oppositely colored. A recent test on X-rays and CT scans has shown that the paste has well delineated radio density. It is anticipated that the invention will eventually be manufactured as a sterile product that can easily and safely be applied to exposed body parts including to exposed brain. It can be made with different viscosities (consistencies), colors, odor, etc. for different uses, including other imaging strategies and purposes, such as for industrial/engineering objectives. It can be used in intraoperative stereotactic guidance for surgical instruments and devices, especially minimally invasive and robotic surgical planning and image based guidance. It has other advantages such as not requiring other adhesives for attachment to structures.