A novel MR-guided interventional device for 3D circumferential access to breast tissue

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology

Background:

• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is increasingly used for image-guided breast procedures like biopsies.
• Existing MR-guidance methods often use 2D compression, distorting anatomy and limiting access.
• Small lesions (<1 cm) are better resolved by MRI, enabling earlier detection than ultrasound.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel MRI-guided system for breast lesion localization with 360-degree access.
• To improve accuracy and accessibility for minimally invasive breast procedures.
• To assess the performance of a new RF coil and a 3D bladder concept for tissue immobilization.

Main Methods:

• Developed a 3D radial coordinate system with four degrees of freedom for MR-guided localization.
• Integrated a novel breast RF coil for enhanced signal-to-noise ratio.
• Tested the system using a breast phantom with MR-visible targets and MR-compatible needles; evaluated tissue immobilization with animal tissue.

Main Results:

• The developed RF breast coil demonstrated signal-to-noise comparable to commercial coils.
• The system achieved 89% accuracy in placing the needle tip in contact with targeted lesions (100% for lesions >6 mm).
• The 3D bladder concept effectively immobilized deformable animal tissue during needle insertion.

Conclusions:

• The novel MR-guidance system accurately localizes small breast targets (3-4 mm) with 360-degree rotational access.
• The system overcomes limitations of 2D compression, offering improved anatomical access.
• This technology shows significant potential for enhancing breast biopsy and other image-guided procedures.