Guidewire tracking during endovascular neurosurgery.

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Neurosurgery
• Computer-Aided Interventions

Background:

• Endovascular brain interventions require precise guidewire navigation.
• Real-time tracking is crucial for augmented reality (AR) surgical guidance.
• Current methods may lack the precision needed for complex maneuvers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a real-time guidewire tracking algorithm for fluoroscopic images.
• To enable integration with augmented reality 3D representations for enhanced surgical assistance.
• To improve the accuracy and robustness of guidewire localization during neurointerventions.

Main Methods:

• A hybrid approach combining a ribbon-like morphing process and minimal path optimization for lateral motion tracking.
• An endpoint tracking algorithm utilizing a circular window and Radon transform for forward motion detection.
• Real-time implementation for seamless integration into surgical workflows.

Main Results:

• The method demonstrated above-average precision in tracking guidewires on fluoroscopic sequences.
• Robust performance was observed even with high-speed motions characteristic of endovascular procedures.
• No permanent errors requiring manual correction were noted, indicating high reliability.

Conclusions:

• The proposed guidewire tracking method is effective and suitable for real-time application in endovascular brain interventions.
• This technology has the potential to significantly assist physicians by providing accurate 3D visualization in AR.
• The algorithm offers a reliable solution for precise guidewire navigation, enhancing patient safety and procedural outcomes.