ALICE: A tool for automatic localization of intra-cranial electrodes for clinical and high-density grids.
BACKGROUND
Electrocorticographic (ECoG) measurements require the accurate localization of implanted electrodes with respect to the subject's neuroanatomy. Electrode localization is particularly relevant to associate structure with function. Several procedures have attempted to solve this problem, namely by co-registering a post-operative computed tomography (CT) scan, with a pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) anatomy scan. However, this type of procedure requires a manual and time-consuming detection and transcription of the electrode coordinates from the CT volume scan and restricts the extraction of smaller high-resolution ECoG grid electrodes due to the downsampling of the CT.


NEW METHOD
ALICE automatically detects electrodes on the post-operative high-resolution CT scan, visualizes them in a combined 2D and 3D volume space using AFNI and SUMA software and then projects the electrodes on the individual's cortical surface rendering. The pipeline integrates the multiple-step method into a user-friendly GUI in Matlab®, thus providing an easy, automated and standard tool for ECoG electrode localization.


RESULTS
ALICE was validated in 13 subjects implanted with clinical ECoG grids by comparing the calculated electrode center-of-mass coordinates with those computed using a commonly used method.


COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS
A novel aspect of ALICE is the combined 2D-3D visualization of the electrodes on the CT scan and the option to also detect high-density ECoG grids. Feasibility was shown in 5 subjects and validated for 2 subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The ALICE pipeline provides a fast and accurate detection, discrimination and localization of ECoG electrodes spaced down to 4 mm apart.
['Branco|Mariana P|MP|', 'Gaglianese|Anna|A|', 'Glen|Daniel R|DR|', 'Hermes|Dora|D|', 'Saad|Ziad S|ZS|', 'Petridou|Natalia|N|', 'Ramsey|Nick F|NF|']
D000293:Adolescent D000328:Adult D002540:Cerebral Cortex D002648:Child D000069279:Drug Resistant Epilepsy D000069280:Electrocorticography D004567:Electrodes, Implanted D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional D008297:Male D008875:Middle Aged D010363:Pattern Recognition, Automated D012984:Software D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed D055815:Young Adult
ALICE High-density grid ECoG Electrode localization Clinical grid Integrated pipeline