Magnetically-Assisted Remote Controlled Microcatheter Tip Deflection under Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Interventional Radiology

Background:

• X-ray fluoroscopy-guided endovascular procedures face challenges like difficult catheter navigation and ionizing radiation exposure.
• Magnetic resonance (MR) guidance offers a potential alternative to overcome these limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a microcatheter with a remotely controlled tip using an MR scanner's magnetic field.
• To establish a protocol for applying current to a microcoil-tipped microcatheter for controlled deflections.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a microcoil on a polyimide-tipped endovascular catheter using laser lathe lithography.
• In vitro testing in a waterbath and vascular phantom using a 1.5-T MR system and SSFP sequencing.
• Application of varying currents to the microcatheter coils to measure tip deflection and assess navigation.

Main Results:

• Demonstrated consistent and controllable tip deflections of the microcatheter by applying electrical currents.
• Successfully navigated the steerable microcatheter within vascular phantoms under MR guidance.
• Validated the feasibility of MR-guided remote control for endovascular devices.

Conclusions:

• The developed magnetically steerable microcatheter shows promise for MR-guided endovascular interventions.
• This technology offers a platform to potentially revolutionize the endovascular interventional MRI environment.
• Further testing is warranted to explore the full clinical potential of this device.