| Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1759277 | Ultrasonics | 2011 | 8 Pages |
Interventional surgical instrument localization is a crucial component of minimally invasive surgery. Image guided surgery researchers are investigating devices broadly categorized as surgical localizers to provide real-time information on the instrument’s 3D location and orientation only. This paper describes the implementation and in vitro evaluation of a prototype real-time nonimaging ultrasound-based catheter localizer system towards use in abdominal aortic aneurysm procedures. The catheter-tip is equipped with a single element ultrasound transducer which is tracked with an array of seven external single element transducers. The performance of the system was evaluated in a water tank and additionally in the presence of pork belly tissue and also a nitinol-dacron stent graft. The mean root mean square errors were respectively 1.94 ± 0.06, 2.54 ± 0.31 and 3.33 ± 0.06 mm. In addition, this paper illustrates errors induced by transducer aperture size and suggests a method for aperture error compensation. Aperture compensation applied to the same experimental data yielded mean root mean square errors of 1.05 ± 0.07, 2.42 ± 0.33 and 3.23 ± 0.07 mm respectively for water; water and pork; and water, pork and stent experiments. Lastly, this paper presents a video showing free-hand movement of the catheter within the water tank with data capture at 25 frames per second.
► Real time 3D non-imaging ultrasound based catheter localization system. ► Location information provided at 25 frames per second, video included. ► Aperture error and compensation method presented. ► In vitro experiments with water tank, pork and stent-graft. ► Aperture compensated mean RSME: 1.05 ± 0.07, 2.42 ± 0.33 and 3.23 ± 0.07 mm.
