1301 The Past, Present, and Future of Image Guided Technology: A Patent Bibliometric Analysis

INTRODUCTION: The advent of 3D neuronavigation technologies in the late 1990s changed the practice of modern neurosurgery by allowing surgeons to plan and perform image-guided procedures with reliable intraoperative accuracy. METHODS: The Lens, a publicly available digital database with access to peer-reviewed articles and patent technologies, was used to perform a bibliometric analysis. Specific criteria including search terms for image guided neurosurgery, neuronavigation, brain and spine were used were used to search the database and subsequently organize all patents and scholarly works relating to neuronavigation. The patents with the highest “Cited by” patent count were examined carefully to evaluate their impact in future innovations. RESULTS: After eliminating duplicates, reapplications, and irrelevant patent applications, 70 patents remained for further analysis. Of the top 70 forward-cited patents relating to image-guided neurosurgery, 30 patents (42%) related specifically to neuronavigation. These 30 neuronavigation patents were subcategorized into the components pertaining to neuronavigation systems: registration (7), planning (8), processor (3), postoperative processing, system, and devices. CONCLUSIONS: Analysis of neuronavigation patents reveals the established standards within the field, techniques that are “out of favor”, and future directions. Neuronavigation is trending towards increased use of virtual reality and artificial intelligence. The remarkable advent of these novel technologies, however, cannot hide the fact that neuronavigation as a whole has reached a period of innovational decline.