{"id":4184,"date":"2026-06-02T15:18:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T19:18:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ndigital.com\/?p=4184"},"modified":"2026-07-09T09:07:07","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T13:07:07","slug":"exploring-radiation-free-approaches-to-spine-surgery-research","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ndigital.com\/de\/case-study\/exploring-radiation-free-approaches-to-spine-surgery-research\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring Radiation-Free Approaches to Spine Surgery Research"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"4184\" class=\"elementor elementor-4184\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d7caa0e e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"d7caa0e\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7e3cdb7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"7e3cdb7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<strong>Disclaimer:<\/strong> The ULTRATOPIA platform described in this case study is a research and development project conducted by KU Leuven and Balgrist University Hospital. It is not a cleared or approved medical device and is not currently used in clinical care. Performance figures cited reflect research benchmarks, not validated clinical outcomes.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-21b0129 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"21b0129\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4979fe4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"4979fe4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">The Challenge: Precision in a Complex Environment<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-474ee54 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"474ee54\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b299c50 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b299c50\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPedicle screw placement is among the most technically demanding spinal procedures. The pedicle, a narrow bony channel, sits just millimeters from the spinal cord and major vascular structures.\n\nSurgeons must operate under several constraints:\n<ul>\n \t<li><span>Limited visibility in minimally invasive approaches<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span>Dependence on radiation-based imaging for guidance<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li><span>Physiological motion, such as breathing and tissue interaction<\/span><\/li>\n \t<li>Difficulty maintaining precision in dynamic environments<\/li>\n \t<li>Relying on non-real-time imaging and tactile feedback.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<span>\n<\/span><span>These challenges translate into real potential clinical consequences:<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e9cd68d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"e9cd68d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9c64e24 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"9c64e24\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<table class=\"ntable\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th width=\"50%\" scope=\"col\">Challenge<\/th>\n<th width=\"50%\" scope=\"col\">Consequence<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>Blind drilling or 2D fluoroscopy<\/td>\n<td>Sub-optimally placed pedicle screw<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Intraoperative CT \/ X-ray<\/td>\n<td>Significant radiation exposure<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>Patient breathing &amp; movement<\/td>\n<td>Registration errors, screw misplacement<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\nTeam ULTRATOPIA set out to investigate whether real-time, radiation-free, submillimeter approaches could be developed for this workflow.\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-16f2bae e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"16f2bae\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-452a21f elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"452a21f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">A Unified Workflow: Multi-Robot Coordination with Optical Tracking <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-930b072 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"930b072\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4e2f75f e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"4e2f75f\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-eff2578 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"eff2578\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The system combines ultrasound imaging, robotic positioning, surgical planning, and drilling functions in a seamless loop, with NDI\u2019s optical tracking supporting the workflow at key moments:<\/p><ul><li>Initial surface reconstruction<\/li><li>Automatic registration of CT plans to ultrasound images<\/li><li>Real-time motion tracking during drilling<\/li><li>Dynamic adaptation based on optical marker feedback<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>The ULTRATOPIA platform is designed to explore workflows that reduce reliance on intraoperative fluoroscopy. The system is engineered to enable minimally invasive workflows without compromising accuracy, aiming for the following clinical benchmarks:<\/p><ul><li>Drilling Success Rate: \u226590%<\/li><li>Linear Precision: \u2243 1 mm<\/li><li>Angular Accuracy: \u2243 1\u00b0<\/li><\/ul><p><br \/>This synergy between advanced robotics and high-precision optical tracking sets a new standard for safety and reliability in spinal interventions.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-fd45628 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"fd45628\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3f23767 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"3f23767\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"577\" src=\"https:\/\/www.ndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KU-Leuven08-1024x577.jpg\" class=\"attachment-large size-large wp-image-4194\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.ndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KU-Leuven08-1024x577.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.ndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KU-Leuven08-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.ndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KU-Leuven08-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.ndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KU-Leuven08-1536x865.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.ndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KU-Leuven08-18x10.jpg 18w, https:\/\/www.ndigital.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/KU-Leuven08.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c49741c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"c49741c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Diagram 1:<\/strong> Workflow Architecture of Team Ultratopia\u2019s Robotic Spine Surgery System<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2d0ed9d e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"2d0ed9d\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b64b3ab elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b64b3ab\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">Disclaimers<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-3ca50c3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"3ca50c3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f47df0e elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f47df0e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><em>T<\/em><em>estimonials in this case study reflect the speakers&#8217; experience with the ULTRATOPIA research platform incorporating NDI tracking components. Outcomes are determined by the research system design, integration choices, and clinical protocol, not by NDI components in isolation<\/em><\/p><p><em>The Polaris Vega<\/em><em>\u00ae VT is a general metrology product and is not approved, cleared, or developed for medical use. Suitability of this product in a particular application must be determined by the OEM customer or the end user. Clinical applications shown are representative OEM integrations completed by Team ULTRATOPIA. NDI Passive Spheres are FDA-regulated medical devices.<\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7d7f1c3 e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7d7f1c3\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\" data-no-translation=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b4478e9 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"b4478e9\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-ebcb927 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"ebcb927\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About KU Leuven\u2019s Team Ultratopia<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e05ffd3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e05ffd3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Team Ultratopia is part of the <strong>Robot-Assisted Surgery (RAS) group at KU Leuven<\/strong>, in collaboration with Balgrist University Hospital (University of Zurich). Their research spans robotic ultrasound, AI-based navigation, multi-robot surgical systems, and preclinical validation. Their original project proposal underpins this case study.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-83c8095 e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"83c8095\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b6aa7dc elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"b6aa7dc\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About NDI<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5fb78e4 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"5fb78e4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>NDI is a global leader in optical and electromagnetic tracking technologies, including the <strong>Polaris Vega\u00ae, <\/strong>trusted for its speed, accuracy, and reliability when integrated \u00a0into OEM medical device navigation systems. The company has over 40 years of experience enabling robotic and image-guided systems. <strong>Precisely<\/strong>. It\u2019s our way and your advantage.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-0aa712a e-con-full e-flex e-con e-child\" data-id=\"0aa712a\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-9a77038 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"9a77038\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\">About KUKA<\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f12e02c elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f12e02c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>KUKA is a global leader in intelligent automation with over 124 years of experience across multiple sectors. In its medical partnerships, KUKA uses the LBR Med, a seven-axis lightweight robot designed specifically for healthcare applications. Its adaptability enables seamless integration into medical devices for complex surgical environments.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Exploring Radiation-Free Approaches to Spine Surgery ResearchHow KU Leuven\u2019s Team Ultratopia, with NDI\u2019s Polaris\u00ae Optical Tracking Technology is Exploring New Approaches To Robotic Pedicle Screw Placement.Disclaimer: The ULTRATOPIA platform described in this case study is a research and development project conducted by KU Leuven and Balgrist University Hospital. It is not a cleared or approved&hellip;&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ndigital.com\/de\/case-study\/exploring-radiation-free-approaches-to-spine-surgery-research\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Weiterlesen &raquo;<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Exploring Radiation-Free Approaches to Spine Surgery Research<\/span><\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4193,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_header_footer","format":"standard","meta":{"neve_meta_sidebar":"full-width","neve_meta_container":"","neve_meta_enable_content_width":"on","neve_meta_content_width":100,"neve_meta_title_alignment":"","neve_meta_author_avatar":"","neve_post_elements_order":"","neve_meta_disable_header":"","neve_meta_disable_footer":"","neve_meta_disable_title":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[38],"tags":[37],"class_list":["post-4184","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-case-study","tag-case-study"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Radiation-Free Spine Research with Polaris Tracking | NDI<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"KU Leuven&#039;s Team Ultratopia integrated NDI Polaris optical tracking technology to explore radiation-free robotic spine research. 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