Stormram 4: An MR Safe Robotic System for Breast Biopsy

Area of Science:

• Medical Robotics
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Surgical Navigation

Background:

• Accurate biopsy of MRI-detected breast lesions is crucial for diagnosis.
• Current methods may face challenges in precision and efficiency.
• Minimally invasive techniques are needed to reduce patient risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Stormram 4, a novel robotic system for MRI-guided breast biopsies.
• To evaluate the preclinical performance of the Stormram 4 within an MRI environment.
• To assess the system's accuracy, safety, and potential for clinical application.

Main Methods:

• Development of the Stormram 4 robotic system, featuring pneumatic stepper motors.
• Preclinical testing of the robot in free air and within an MRI environment using breast phantoms.
• Measurement of positioning error and assessment of MR safety.

Main Results:

• The Stormram 4 robot demonstrated a mean positioning error of 0.73 ± 0.47 mm in free air and 1.29 ± 0.59 mm in MRI.
• The system operates effectively within the MRI environment, with stepping frequencies up to 8 Hz under load.
• The robot is inherently MR safe, excluding the biopsy needle.

Conclusions:

• The Stormram 4 robot shows significant promise for accurate MRI-guided breast biopsies.
• Its precision and MR safety can potentially minimize tissue damage and reduce false negatives.
• Further clinical studies are warranted to validate its efficacy in improving healthcare quality for breast cancer diagnosis.