Automated Fiducial Marker Planning for Lung Lesions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Placing fiducial markers in the lungs is challenging due to limited visibility, uncertainty in marker location caused by tidal motion, presence of obstacles like blood vessels, and heterogeneity of lung tissue, leading to a high incidence of pneumothorax and the need for invasive procedures.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses imaging data to automatically calculate and display candidate fiducial marker locations, providing interactive feedback to physicians, and planning routes to selected locations, while avoiding obstacles and considering breathing motion and treatment-specific constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If percutaneous CT-guided fiducial placement is performed, then marker placement can be achieved, but pneumothorax incidence increases to 20-40%
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a planning system as an intermediary between the physician and the actual fiducial placement procedure. This system processes imaging data, identifies safe candidate locations, and provides guidance without requiring the physician to perform invasive exploratory procedures, thereby reducing pneumothorax risk
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of patient anatomy and identifies optimal fiducial placement locations before the actual procedure. By pre-planning the procedure and identifying safe locations that avoid critical structures, the system eliminates the need for invasive exploratory procedures during the actual placement
2Object-affected harmful factors
If bronchoscopic fiducial placement is used, then invasiveness is reduced, but visibility and location accuracy are compromised due to limited endoscope view and tidal motion
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that provide the physician with information about candidate locations, visibility conditions, and proximity to obstacles. This feedback loop enables the physician to make informed decisions about fiducial placement while using the less invasive bronchoscopic approach
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses 3D imaging data and spatial analysis to compensate for the limited 2D view provided by the endoscope. By processing volumetric data and providing spatial context, the system enables accurate fiducial placement despite the restricted visual field of the bronchoscope
3Measurement precision
If manual fiducial placement planning is performed, then physician expertise is required, but time consumption and procedural complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs automated analysis of imaging data to identify candidate fiducial locations, assess visibility conditions, and evaluate proximity to obstacles. This self-service capability reduces the time and expertise required for manual planning while maintaining or improving placement precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical planning processes with automated computational analysis. The system uses algorithms to process imaging data and identify optimal fiducial locations, substituting the time-consuming manual evaluation process with rapid automated computation
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are described for determining candidate fiducial marker locations in the vicinity of a lesion. Imaging information and data are input or received by the system and candidate marker locations are calculated and displayed to the physician. Additionally, interactive feedback may be provided to the physician for manually selected or identified sites. The physician may thus receive automatic real time feedback for a candidate fiducial marker location and adjust or accept a constellation of fiducial marker locations. 3D renderings of the airway tree, lesion, and marker constellations may be displayed.