Display-based augmented reality navigation for CT-Guided thoracoabdominal punctures: phantom study of accuracy and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Navigation
• Augmented Reality in Medicine

Background:

• Percutaneous thoracoabdominal interventions require precise needle placement.
• Conventional CT-guided procedures face limitations like iterative scans, operator variability, and 2D visualization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate a novel display-based augmented reality (AR) navigation system for enhanced needle guidance.
• To assess AR system's accuracy, efficiency, and workflow improvements compared to conventional CT guidance.

Main Methods:

• A preclinical study using a CIRS abdominal phantom.
• Integration of virtual-to-real registration via deltille grid position sensing (DGPS) markers.
• Comparison of AR guidance with conventional step-and-shoot CT guidance involving expert and novice operators.

Main Results:

• AR guidance demonstrated high first-pass accuracy with minimal distance and angular errors, irrespective of operator experience.
• No significant differences in accuracy were observed between expert and novice operators using AR.
• AR guidance reduced targeting errors and the number of verification scans compared to conventional CT.

Conclusions:

• Augmented reality navigation significantly enhances first-pass needle precision in percutaneous interventions.
• The AR system reduces procedural variability and improves workflow efficiency.
• AR navigation shows potential for more consistent and efficient minimally invasive procedures.