Magnetic resonance imaging compatible remote catheter navigation system with 3 degrees of freedom
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
8-1-2016
Journal
International Journal of Computer Assisted Radiology and Surgery
Volume
11
Issue
8
First Page
1537
Last Page
1545
URL with Digital Object Identifier
10.1007/s11548-015-1337-4
Abstract
Purpose: To facilitate MRI-guided catheterization procedures, we present an MRI-compatible remote catheter navigation system that allows remote navigation of steerable catheters with 3 degrees of freedom. Methods: The system consists of a user interface (master), a robot (slave), and an ultrasonic motor control servomechanism. The interventionalist applies conventional motions (axial, radial and plunger manipulations) on an input catheter in the master unit; this user input is measured and used by the servomechanism to control a compact catheter manipulating robot, such that it replicates the interventionalist’s input motion on the patient catheter. The performance of the system was evaluated in terms of MRI compatibility (SNR and artifact), feasibility of remote navigation under real-time MRI guidance, and motion replication accuracy. Results: Real-time MRI experiments demonstrated that catheter was successfully navigated remotely to desired target references in all 3 degrees of freedom. The system had an absolute value error of < 1 mm in axial catheter motion replication over 30 mm of travel and 3 ± 2 for radial catheter motion replication over 180 . The worst case SNR drop was observed to be < 3 %; the robot did not introduce any artifacts in the MR images. Conclusion: An MRI-compatible compact remote catheter navigation system has been developed that allows remote navigation of steerable catheters with 3 degrees of freedom. The proposed system allows for safe and accurate remote catheter navigation, within conventional closed-bore scanners, without degrading MR image quality. ∘ ∘ ∘