Curved Needle Guidance System Trajectory Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current guidance systems for curved interventional devices, such as curved needles, face challenges in accurately tracking and guiding these devices to a target within the body, especially when compared to straight devices.
Innovation Solution
A guidance system that includes a curved needle with known curvature parameters, enclosed within a straight needle guide, and a tracking system with imaging capabilities. The system calculates a needle trajectory based on the curvature parameters, chosen entry point, and target location, allowing for precise deployment of the curved needle to reach the target tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a curved needle is used to reach target tissue through curved trajectories, then the ability to access difficult-to-reach targets is improved, but the accuracy of tracking and guidance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary calculation of the needle trajectory before insertion, using the known curvature parameters and target location to determine the optimal entry point and insertion depth. This advance planning ensures that when the curved needle is deployed, it will accurately reach the target tissue despite its curved path, resolving the tracking accuracy issue while maintaining the ability to access difficult targets
2Adaptability or versatility
If a curved needle with unknown or variable curvature is used, then flexibility in reaching different targets is improved, but the precision of trajectory prediction and guidance deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses a curved needle with known and constant curvature parameters, allowing the guidance system to accurately predict the needle's trajectory. By maintaining fixed curvature parameters rather than allowing them to vary, the system can precisely calculate where the needle tip will end up based on the entry point and insertion depth, thereby improving trajectory prediction precision while still maintaining flexibility through proper selection of entry points
3Device complexity
If a tracking system designed for straight devices is used for curved needles, then the simplicity of the guidance system is maintained, but the accuracy of reaching the target deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces a computational model of the curved needle trajectory as an intermediary between the simple tracking system and the actual needle. The tracking system continues to monitor the needle position, but the known curvature parameters serve as a mediator that allows accurate prediction of the needle tip location based on the tracked entry point and insertion depth, thereby maintaining system simplicity while improving target reaching accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for guidance of a device having a curved needle to a target tissue includes a tracking system having an imaging component, a processor, and a curved needle with known geometric parameters. The processor is configured to calculate a needle trajectory based on geometric considerations of the needle and the target tissue. Additional features and methods of the invention include a display with an annotated overlay for directing and tracking the curved device.