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Updated: Jul 5, 2026
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Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Needle Tip Tracking with a Fiber-Optic Ultrasound Receiver
Published on: August 21, 2018
Three-dimensional ultrasound-guided robotic needle placement: an experimental evaluation
Emad M Boctor1, Michael A Choti, Everette C Burdette
1Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins Medical Institute, Baltimore, MD, USA.
Summary
This study introduces a 3D ultrasound-guided robotic system for needle placement, offering improved accuracy and reduced invasiveness compared to manual methods. The system demonstrates high repeatability in robotic needle insertions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Robotics
- Image-Guided Interventions
- Ultrasound Technology
Background:
- Clinical adoption of robotic needle placement lags behind lab capabilities.
- Need for reliable and user-friendly robotic systems in image-guided procedures.
- Bridging the gap between robotic potential and clinical application.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and evaluate a novel 3D ultrasound-guided robotic system for accurate needle placement.
- To compare the accuracy and repeatability of the robotic system against manual needle insertion.
- To assess the system's feasibility in clinical settings.
Main Methods:
- Utilized a low-cost robotic system with minimal off-line calibration.
- Employed 3D ultrasound reconstructed from freehand 2D scans for needle alignment.
- Compared robotic accuracy and repeatability against manual needle placement in ex vivo and in vivo experiments.
Main Results:
- The robotic system demonstrated significantly higher accuracy than single manual insertions.
- Robotic repeatability was 1.56 mm, superior to manual insertions (3.19 mm and 4.63 mm).
- In vivo accuracy was 5.5 mm, even with physiological motion.
Conclusions:
- A 3D ultrasound-guided robot can reduce error bias and the number of needle insertions.
- The system offers a promising alternative to manual needle placement.
- Future work should focus on compensating for target motion during procedures.
