Method and system for supporting a medical brain mapping procedure

1. A data processing system for supporting a medical brain mapping procedure, comprising a computer having a processor configured to:

receive a microscope image of a cortex of a patient, the microscope image captured by a microscope;

superimpose stimulation response marks onto the microscope image; and

identify a probed stimulation response mark based on determining, via image processing, a position of a stimulation probe in the microscope image with respect to a superimposed mark of the stimulation response marks, wherein the probed stimulation response mark indicates a response by the patient to an electrical stimulation of the cortex of the patient by the stimulation probe located at a position associated with the stimulation response mark.

2. A computer-implemented medical data processing method for supporting a medical brain mapping procedure, the method comprising:

receiving a microscope image of a cortex of a patient, the microscope image captured by a microscope;

superimposing stimulation response marks onto the microscope image; and

identifying a probed stimulation response mark based on determining, via image processing, a position of a stimulation probe in the microscope image with respect to a superimposed mark of the stimulation response marks, wherein the probed stimulation response mark indicates a response by the patient to an electrical stimulation of the cortex of the patient by the stimulation probe located at a position associated with the stimulation response mark.

3. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

recognising physical marks on the cortex of the patient in the microscope image; and

positioning the stimulation response marks based on the physical marks recognized in the microscope image.

4. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

automatically defining positions of the stimulation response marks.

5. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 4 , wherein positions of the stimulation response marks are determined from an atlas of the cortex of the patient.

6. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

superimposing positioning marks onto the microscope image.

7. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

determining the probed stimulation response mark from the position of the stimulation probe relative to the cortex or the microscope, wherein the position of the stimulation probe is determined by tracking a marker device attached to the stimulation probe.

8. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

acquiring stimulation response information that represents the response by the patient to the electrical stimulation of the cortex of the patient; and

setting visual properties of a corresponding stimulation response mark in accordance with the stimulation response information.

9. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 8 , wherein acquiring the stimulation response information involves detecting a movement pattern performed by the stimulation probe.

10. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 8 , wherein acquiring the stimulation response information involves receiving a stimulation response signal, which represents the stimulation response information, from a transmitter attached to the stimulation probe or the microscope.

11. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

determining a position of the microscope.

12. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

adapting positions of the stimulation response marks in the microscope image in a condition that the microscope is moved relative to the cortex of the patient.

13. The computer-implemented medical data processing method according to claim 2 , further comprising:

superimposing a viewing direction indicator, which represents a viewing direction of the microscope, onto the microscope image.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable program storage medium storing a computer program for supporting a medical brain mapping procedure, which, when executed on a processor of a computer, causes the processor to:

receive a microscope image of cortex of a patient, the microscope image captured by a microscope;

superimpose stimulation response marks onto the microscope image; and

identify a probed stimulation response mark based on determining, via image processing, a position of a stimulation probe in the microscope image with respect to a superimposed mark of the stimulation response marks, wherein the probed stimulation response mark indicates a response by the patient to an electrical stimulation of the cortex of the patient by the stimulation probe located at a position associated with the stimulation response mark.

15. A computer comprising the non-transitory computer-readable program storage medium according to claim 14 .