3D Ablation Navigation via Fiducial Pattern Tracking
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical ablation procedures face challenges in accurately visualizing and navigating electrosurgical devices to target tissues due to the limitations of two-dimensional ultrasound imaging, requiring high skill for angle and entry point selection, and often result in incomplete treatment or damage to surrounding tissues.
Innovation Solution
An ablation planning and navigation system that includes a memory for storing images, a controller for rendering them in three dimensions, and an ultrasound device with a fiducial pattern to determine the position of the ablation needle, allowing for automatic segmentation of the target area and generation of a treatment plan, displayed alongside real-time ultrasound images for precise device positioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If two-dimensional ultrasound imaging is used for ablation guidance, then the device complexity is reduced, but the measurement precision and positioning accuracy of the ablation needle deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms two-dimensional ultrasound images into three-dimensional visualizations by integrating multiple 2D images and applying spatial transformation algorithms. This dimensionality enhancement allows the system to display the ablation needle's position, orientation, and trajectory in 3D space relative to the target tissue, significantly improving measurement precision without requiring complex dedicated 3D imaging hardware
2Productivity
If automatic segmentation and treatment planning are implemented, then the productivity and efficiency of the procedure improve, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automatic segmentation of target tissue and generation of treatment plans before the actual ablation procedure begins. By pre-processing the ultrasound images to identify tissue boundaries, calculate ablation zone requirements, and determine optimal needle trajectories in advance, the system reduces procedure time and complexity during the actual treatment phase
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer-based planning system that acts as an intermediary between the raw ultrasound imaging data and the surgeon's decision-making process. This intermediary automatically processes images, segments tissues, calculates treatment parameters, and presents optimized treatment plans, reducing the cognitive load and manual work required while improving procedural efficiency
3Manufacturing precision
If three-dimensional visualization is provided for needle positioning, then the manufacturing precision and treatment accuracy improve, but the loss of information from multiple image processing steps increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements continuous feedback by comparing the planned 3D needle trajectory with the actual needle position as it is being advanced toward the target. Real-time ultrasound images are processed and overlaid with the treatment plan, allowing the surgeon to see deviations and make immediate corrections, thereby maintaining precision while minimizing cumulative errors that would result in information loss
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure is directed to an ablation planning and navigation system. The planning system includes a memory configured to store a plurality of images and a controller configured to render the plurality of images in three dimensions, automatically segment the plurality of images to demarcate a target area, and automatically determine a treatment plan based on the target area. The navigation system includes an ultrasound device having a fiducial pattern that obtains an ultrasound image, an ablation needle having a image capture device that captures an image of the fiducial pattern, and a controller that receives the ultrasound image and the fiducial image. The controller determines a position of the ablation needle based on the fiducial image. The planning and navigation system also includes a controller that receives data from the planning system and the navigation system and a display configured to display the received information.