System architecture for a magnetically guided endovascular microcatheter.

Area of Science:

• Medical Devices
• Interventional Radiology
• Robotics in Medicine

Background:

• Minimally invasive interventions guided by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) are advancing.
• Precise control of microcatheters is crucial for effective endovascular surgery.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a user control system for operating and steering a novel magnetically guided microcatheter.
• To assess the accuracy and reliability of microcatheter tip deflection control within an MRI scanner.

Main Methods:

• Development of a magnetically-assisted remote control (MARC) microcatheter with distal micro-electromagnets.
• Steering the microcatheter within a phantom inside a 1.5 T MRI scanner using custom controls and a graphical user interface.
• Measuring microcatheter tip deflection using MRI steady-state free precession (SSFP) images and comparing with theoretical models.

Main Results:

• The system demonstrated control over microcatheter tip deflection magnitude and direction using hand, foot, and software controls.
• Measurements showed good correlation (R(2): 0.88) between magnetic deflections and the developed model, with a linear response region (R(2): 0.98).
• Image processing successfully auto-located the microcatheter tip in vivo, with artifact center serving as a reliable marker for deflection and location.

Conclusions:

• The developed user control system effectively steers the MARC microcatheter within an MRI environment.
• The system offers accurate and reliable control of microcatheter deflection, correlating well with predictive models.
• This technology shows promise for enhancing precision in MRI-guided endovascular surgery with minimal MRI artifact.