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Updated: May 20, 2026
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Three-Dimensional Ultrasonic Needle Tip Tracking with a Fiber-Optic Ultrasound Receiver
Published on: August 21, 2018
Spinal needle navigation by tracked ultrasound snapshots
Tamas Ungi1, Purang Abolmaesumi, Rayhan Jalal
1School of Computing, Queen’s University, Kingston, ON, Canada. ungi@cs.queensu.ca
IEEE Transactions on Bio-Medical Engineering
|August 2, 2012
Summary
Tracked Ultrasound Snapshots (TUSS) significantly improve accuracy and efficiency for facet joint injections. This ultrasound guidance technique enhances success rates and reduces procedure time in spinal interventions.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Interventional Radiology
Background:
- Ultrasound (US) guidance offers a radiation-free alternative for facet joint injections.
- Clinical adoption has been limited by challenges in visualizing the joint and manipulating the needle simultaneously.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a novel technique enhancing targeting accuracy and efficiency in facet joint injections.
- To overcome limitations of freehand ultrasound guidance in spinal procedures.
Main Methods:
- Electromagnetic tracking of the ultrasound transducer and needle positions.
- Recording of tracked ultrasound snapshots (TUSS) for needle navigation.
- Utilizing acquired TUSS to guide needle placement accurately.
Main Results:
- Success rate for facet joint injections increased from 44.4% to 93.3% in a cadaveric lamb model using TUSS.
- Needle insertion time decreased significantly from 47.9 ± 34.2 s to 36.1 ± 28.7 s.
- High success rates (96.7%) and targeting accuracy (1.03 ± 0.48 mm) were achieved in synthetic and phantom models.
Conclusions:
- Tracked Ultrasound Snapshots (TUSS) guidance substantially improves success rates and time efficiency for spinal facet joint injections.
- The TUSS technique demonstrates broad applicability to other spinal needle placement procedures.
- This method enhances precision in minimally invasive spinal interventions.
