3D Biopsy Planning for Lymph Node Sequencing and Navigation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing minimally invasive medical procedures lack accurate registration between medical tools and anatomic passageways, leading to inefficiencies and potential complications in biopsy procedures, particularly in accurately staging lung cancer by selecting and sequencing lymph node biopsies.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for generating a 3D model of the patient's anatomy, segmenting lymph nodes and target lesions, selecting lymph node sites for biopsy, and determining a navigation sequence to minimize cross-contamination, using machine learning and image guidance for precise biopsy planning and execution.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If minimally invasive techniques are used to reduce tissue damage, then patient recovery time and discomfort are reduced, but accurate registration between medical tools and anatomic passageways becomes difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preoperative planning by generating a 3D model of the patient's anatomy from imaging data before the procedure. Lymph nodes and lymph node stations are identified and segmented in advance, with biopsy paths pre-calculated and optimized. This preliminary mapping allows the medical tool to be accurately registered to the anatomic passageways during the actual procedure without requiring complex real-time registration, thus maintaining precision while minimizing tissue damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary 3D computational model that mediates between the medical tool and the patient's anatomy. This virtual model serves as a reference framework that is pre-aligned with the patient's anatomical structures, enabling accurate navigation and registration during minimally invasive procedures without direct real-time alignment complexity.
2Reliability
If multiple lymph nodes are biopsied to improve staging accuracy, then diagnostic reliability improves, but procedure time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-identifies and segments all relevant lymph nodes and lymph node stations in the 3D model before the procedure. The optimal biopsy sequence and paths are calculated in advance based on the tumor location and lymphatic drainage patterns. During the procedure, the operator simply follows the pre-planned sequence, significantly reducing procedure time while maintaining comprehensive staging accuracy through systematic sampling of all necessary lymph node regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The lymph node anatomy is segmented into distinct regions and stations (e.g., N1, N2, N3 regions) within the 3D model. This segmentation allows the system to systematically target specific lymph node stations for biopsy in a optimized sequence, ensuring comprehensive staging while avoiding redundant sampling and reducing overall procedure time through structured approach.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If biopsy paths are optimized to avoid cross-contamination, then patient safety improves, but navigation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system pre-calculates and optimizes biopsy paths and sequencing in the 3D model before the procedure begins. By simulating the biopsy sequence in advance and selecting paths that minimize risk of cross-contamination between lymph node stations, the actual procedure navigation becomes simpler and safer. The complex path optimization is performed computationally beforehand, leaving the intraoperative navigation straightforward and controlled.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are devices, systems, methods, and computer program products for planning and performing medical procedures. In some embodiments, a system for planning a medical procedure includes a processor and a memory operably coupled to the processor. The memory can store instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the system to perform operations including: receiving image data of an anatomic region including a plurality of lymph nodes and a target lesion; generating a three-dimensional model of the anatomic region by segmenting the image data; selecting a subset of the lymph nodes to be biopsied during the medical procedure based at least in part on a location of the target lesion in the three-dimensional model; and determining a sequence for navigating a biopsy device to locations of the subset of the lymph nodes during the medical procedure.