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An open electromagnetic tracking framework applied to targeted liver tumour ablation

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International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Electromagnetic tracking is a core platform technology in the navigation and visualisation of image-guided procedures. The technology provides high tracking accuracy in non-line-of-sight environments, allowing instrument navigation in locations where optical tracking is not feasible. EMT can be beneficial in applications such as percutaneous radiofrequency ablation for the treatment of hepatic lesions where the needle tip may be obscured due to difficult liver environments (e.g subcutaneous fat or ablation artefacts). Advances in the field of EMT include novel methods of improving tracking system accuracy, precision and error compensation capabilities, though such system-level improvements cannot be readily incorporated in current therapy applications due to the ‘blackbox’ nature of commercial tracking solving algorithms.

Methods

This paper defines a software framework to allow novel EMT designs, and improvements become part of the global design process for image-guided interventions. An exemplary framework is implemented in the Python programming language and demonstrated with the open-source Anser EMT system. The framework is applied in the preclinical setting though targeted liver ablation therapy on an animal model.

Results

The developed framework was tested with the Anser EMT electromagnetic tracking platform. Liver tumour targeting was performed using the tracking framework with the CustusX navigation platform using commercially available electromagnetically tracked needles. Ablation of two tumours was performed with a commercially available ablation system. Necropsy of the tumours indicated ablations within 5 mm of the tumours.

Conclusions

An open-source framework for electromagnetic tracking was presented and effectively demonstrated in the preclinical setting. We believe that this framework provides a structure for future advancement in EMT system in and customised instrument design.

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Acknowledgements

This work was support by Science Foundation Ireland technical innovation and development award number 17/TIDA/4897. The authors would like to acknowledge the support of IHU Strasbourg surgical platform.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University College Cork, Cork, Ireland

    Stephen Hinds, Herman Alexander Jaeger, Richard Burke, Brodie O’Sullivan, Fabian Trauzettel & Pádraig Cantillon-Murphy

  2. INRIA, Strasbourg, France

    Bruno Marques & Stéphane Cotin

  3. Bon Secours Hospital, Cork, Ireland

    Brian Bird

  4. Sunbeam Veterinary Hospital, Cork, Ireland

    Joseph Keane

  5. SINTEF, Trondheim, Norway

    Håkon Olav Leira, Erlend Fagertun Hofstad, Ole Vegard Solberg & Thomas Langø

Authors
  1. Stephen Hinds
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  2. Herman Alexander Jaeger
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Correspondence to Herman Alexander Jaeger.

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The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical approval

Animal studies were performed at the Institute for Image-Guided Surgery (IHU), Strasbourg, France. All applicable international, national, and/or institutional guidelines for the care and use of animals were followed. All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution at which the studies were conducted.

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Supported by Science Foundation Ireland technical innovation and development Award Number 17/TIDA/4897.

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Hinds, S., Jaeger, H.A., Burke, R. et al. An open electromagnetic tracking framework applied to targeted liver tumour ablation. Int J CARS 14, 1475–1484 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-019-01983-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-019-01983-5

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