Primary Design Concept for Non-metallic Needle for MRI Guided Spinal Applications

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Medical Imaging
• Materials Science

Background:

• Conventional Nickel-Titanium spinal needles exhibit poor visibility in MRI due to susceptibility artifacts.
• Non-metallic materials offer potential to reduce MRI artifacts but face challenges in sharpness and cost.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present an initial design concept for a novel spinal needle.
• To enhance visualization of spinal needles during magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Main Methods:

• A coaxial needle design featuring a fiber-reinforced inner core and a hollow outer sheet was conceptualized.
• The proposed needle design underwent evaluation within an MRI environment.
• Mechanical testing was performed to compare the novel design with conventional spinal needles.

Main Results:

• The new design aims to mitigate susceptibility artifacts common with metallic needles.
• Initial evaluations in the MRI environment and mechanical tests were conducted.
• Quantification of variations between the proposed and conventional designs was performed.

Conclusions:

• The proposed coaxial spinal needle design offers a potential solution for improved MRI visualization.
• Further development is needed to address clinical routine adoption challenges like sharpness and cost.
• This design represents a step towards more visible and safer spinal interventions.