Development of a sterile Interaction Device during Image guided minimal-invasive Interventions

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering
• Human-Computer Interaction

Background:

• Image-guided Magnetic Resonance (MR) procedures require precise control of imaging parameters.
• Current reliance on assistants for MR imaging control is hampered by acoustic noise and communication difficulties.
• A need exists for intuitive, sterile, and MR-compatible interaction devices for interventional procedures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a novel, sterile, MR-compatible capacitive gesture controller for interventional procedures.
• To enable physicians to independently manipulate imaging settings during MR-guided interventions.
• To enhance the workflow and reduce reliance on control room assistants.

Main Methods:

• Development of a gesture controller integrated into a surgical drape, featuring four capacitive sensors made of conductive fabric.
• Utilizing the principle of electrical capacitance to measure hand proximity to sensors.
• Implementing a micro-controller for real-time data processing and gesture recognition (five distinct gestures).
• Conducting a user study with 25 participants to evaluate prototype performance.

Main Results:

• The capacitive gesture controller successfully registered five different gestures: left-right, right-left, up-down, down-up, and hold.
• A user study demonstrated high accuracy, with the second prototype correctly registering gestures in 92.4% of cases.
• The device provides a direct and fast method for processing gesture data.

Conclusions:

• The developed sterile, MR-compatible capacitive gesture controller offers a viable solution for independent imaging control during MR-guided procedures.
• This technology significantly improves physician workflow by enabling direct, sterile manipulation of imaging parameters.
• The device effectively overcomes communication challenges posed by MR acoustic noise, enhancing procedural efficiency.