A new sensor technology for 2D ultrasound-guided needle tracking

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• 2D Ultrasound (US) is a widely adopted, cost-effective imaging modality for interventions.
• Limited visibility of surgical tools during US-guided procedures remains a significant challenge.
• Existing methods for tool tracking lack the accuracy and integration needed for enhanced interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce a novel sensor technology for embedding onto needles used in US-guided interventions.
• To evaluate the feasibility and performance of this sensor technology for real-time needle tracking.
• To assess the potential clinical impact and workflow integration of the new sensor system.

Main Methods:

• Developed and embedded co-polymer and PZT sensors onto medical needles.
• Utilized a 4-degree-of-freedom (DOF) robot for quantitative robotic studies in a water tank.
• Conducted extensive ex vivo and in vivo experiments, including near-real clinical studies on tissue data.

Main Results:

• Co-polymer sensors demonstrated superior robustness and stability compared to PZT sensors.
• Achieved a high tracking accuracy of 0.14 ± 0.03mm, outperforming competing technologies.
• Successfully validated the technology in ex vivo and in vivo settings, showing promise in clinical studies.

Conclusions:

• The novel sensor technology offers a non-disruptive, accurate, and cost-effective solution for enhancing US-guided interventions.
• Co-polymer sensor integration provides precise, real-time needle localization feedback for clinicians.
• This technology holds significant potential for improving surgical outcomes and widespread clinical adoption.