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A pilot study on an electromagnetic tracking system using tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors applicable to a 4F catheter (1.4 mm in diameter)

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

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Abstract

Purpose

Tracking the position and orientation of a 4F catheter (\(\phi \) 1.4 mm) is required in superselective intra-arterial chemotherapy (SSIAC). Tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors, which measure magnetic fields, are promising candidates because the size of the TMR sensor can be less than a few tenths of a millimeter. The purpose of this paper is to prove the feasibility of an EMT system utilizing TMR sensors as magnetometers.

Methods

Three 1-axis TMR sensors (0.3 mm × 0.3 mm) were packaged on a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) together with an amplifier chip. The PCB was integrated into a 4F catheter. Six field generator coils driven by alternating current (AC) at different frequencies were used. Magnetic field measurement errors were evaluated to assess the effect of electromotive force (EMF) on TMR-based sensing by changing the coils’ driving frequencies. The tracking error was also evaluated. As a result, the feasibility of catheter navigation utilizing the EMT system was demonstrated.

Results

There was a positive correlation between the frequency and the magnetic field measurement error using the TMR sensor (R2 = 0.999). With magnetic field frequencies less than 603 Hz, the average position and orientation estimation error were 10.1 mm and 2.3 degree, respectively. Under ideal conditions, the average estimation error values were 0.9 mm and 0.3 degree, respectively.

Conclusion

The position and orientation errors varied with frequency owing to the induced electromotive force. We should consider the effect of electromotive force on TMR sensor assemblies caused by alternating magnetic fields. An EMT system using TMR sensors was validated, although room for further improvement was identified.

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Change history

  • 07 October 2022

    The ‘#’ symbol at the end of the equation 3 has been removed

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Daido Steel Co., Ltd. and Japan Lifeline Co., Ltd. for technical assistance with the experiments. This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant No. JP20H04553, Japan. We would also like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

Funding

This study was funded by Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (JP20H04553). Daido Steel Co. Ltd. and Japan Lifeline Co. Ltd. supplied the authors the catheter with integrated TMR sensors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan

    Rina Nagano, Kazuaki Hara, Etsuko Kobayashi & Ichiro Sakuma

  2. Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama City University, Yokohama, Japan

    Takashi Ohya

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  1. Rina Nagano
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  2. Kazuaki Hara
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  3. Etsuko Kobayashi
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  4. Takashi Ohya
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  5. Ichiro Sakuma
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Correspondence to Ichiro Sakuma.

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Nagano, R., Hara, K., Kobayashi, E. et al. A pilot study on an electromagnetic tracking system using tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) sensors applicable to a 4F catheter (1.4 mm in diameter). Int J CARS 18, 17–27 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11548-022-02746-5

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