Augmented Reality-Assisted CT-Guided Puncture: A Phantom Study

CardioVascular and Interventional Radiology, vol. 45, pp. 1173–1177

Abstract

PURPOSE: To investigate the feasibility of a novel augmented reality system for CT-guided liver interventions and to compare it with free-hand interventions in a phantom setting. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A newly developed augmented reality interface was used, with projection of CT-imaging in multiplanar reconstruction and live rendering of the needle position, a bull`s eye view of the needle trajectory and a visualization of the distance to the target. Punctures were performed on a custom-made abdominal phantom by three interventional radiologists with different levels of expertise. Time and needle placement accuracy were measured. Two-tailed Wilcoxon signed rank test (p < 0.05) was performed to evaluate intraparticipant difference. RESULTS: Intraparticipant puncture times were significantly shorter for each operator in the augmented reality condition (< 0.001 for the resident, < 0.001 for the junior staff member and 0.027 for the senior staff member). The junior staff member had an improvement in accuracy of 1 mm using augmented reality (p 0.026); the other two participants showed no significant improvement regarding accuracy. CONCLUSION: In this small series, it appears that the novel augmented reality system may improve the speed of CT-guided punctures in the phantom model compared to the free-hand procedure while maintaining a similar accuracy.

Authors 8

1. Vincent Van den Bosch corresponding Aachen Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany. vvandenbosch@ukaachen.de

   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

2. Hizirwan Shukri Salim
   Affiliation as printed

   Philips Research Europe, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

3. Njin-Zu Chen
   Affiliation as printed

   Philips Research Europe, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

4. Otto Stroosma
   Affiliation as printed

   Philips Research Europe, Eindhoven, The Netherlands

5. Philipp Bruners Aachen Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

6. Christiane Katharina Kuhl Aachen Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

7. Federico Pedersoli Aachen Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany

8. Peter Isfort Aachen Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology

   Universitätsklinikum Aachen · RWTH Aachen University

   Affiliation as printed

   Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany