RESEARCH: A new virtual reality system makes epilepsy surgery planning much easier and faster

The technology enhances stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), a minimally invasive surgical process used to pinpoint where seizures originate by implanting electrodes deep in the brain. The new tool, called PreVISE (Precision Virtual Integration System for Epilepsy SEEG), cuts surgery planning time by 91 per cent while improving precision.

Traditionally, SEEG planning relies on 2D visualization of 3D medical scans, requiring surgeons to mentally reconstruct 3D brain structures and complex arrangement of multiple electrodes — a time-consuming and cognitively demanding task that takes about 15 minutes per electrode.

In contrast to existing virtual reality (VR) systems used for SEEG surgery, which are designed to review electrode placement after a procedure has already been completed, PreVISE is specifically designed for pre-surgical planning. It allows surgeons to visualize the brain in 3D, assess risks in real time and make better decisions before surgery begins.

The VR platform provides an interactive 3D model of the patient’s brain, offering real-time feedback on electrode placement, insertion angles and proximity to critical structures like blood vessels. This intuitive approach not only speeds up the process but also enhances accuracy and safety.

By significantly reducing the temporal and cognitive burdens on surgeons, this innovation could improve epilepsy treatment outcomes and set a new standard for neurosurgical planning.

PreVISE was developed by Concordia MSc student Pascal Spiegler and Haitham Abdelsalam, MSc 24, under the direction of Yiming Xiao, an assistant professor in the Department of Computer Science and Software Engineering and the Concordia University Research Chair in Intelligent and Intuitive Surgical Technology. The project was developed with clinical collaborators Alexander Weil and Aris Hadjinicolaou at CHU Sainte-Justine Hospital.

It was introduced in the journal Virtual Reality.