Needle Path Planning via Tissue Resistance Index
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging solutions lack the ability to accurately determine an optimal needle path for targeted tissue ablation procedures, relying on manual analysis of limited two-dimensional slice images which can lead to incorrect placements and increased radiation exposure of vital structures.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for calculating a tissue resistance index by generating candidate needle paths from CT image data, applying filters to remove noise, measuring homogeneity, and performing connected component analysis to identify the optimal path with the lowest resistance value, displayed on a user interface for clinician guidance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If manual analysis of two-dimensional slice images is used to determine needle path, then the process is simple and quick, but the accuracy of needle placement is poor and vital structures may be damaged
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional slice image analysis to three-dimensional volumetric CT data analysis. By extracting and analyzing a cuboid volume of tissue data surrounding the needle path, the system provides comprehensive spatial information that enables accurate needle placement while avoiding vital structures, thus resolving the contradiction between simplicity and accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a tissue resistance index as an intermediary metric that quantifies the difficulty of needle insertion through different tissue regions. This index, calculated from homogeneity analysis and connected component analysis of the cuboid volume, serves as a mediator that guides needle path selection, enabling accurate placement without requiring complex manual interpretation of multiple 2D slices.
2Reliability
If comprehensive three-dimensional analysis is performed to determine optimal needle path, then the accuracy of needle placement is improved, but the computational complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the relevant cuboid volume of tissue data surrounding the candidate needle path from the complete three-dimensional CT dataset. This extraction approach focuses computational resources on the critical region of interest, enabling comprehensive 3D analysis to improve safety while minimizing unnecessary processing of distant tissue, thus reducing overall computation time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs homogeneity analysis and connected component analysis on the extracted cuboid volume to calculate the tissue resistance index. By applying these analytical methods specifically to the localized cuboid region rather than the entire dataset, the system achieves reliable needle path assessment with reduced computational burden and faster processing time.
3Measurement precision
If multiple candidate needle paths are evaluated using tissue resistance index, then the optimal path can be identified, but the computational workload increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary extraction of the cuboid volume and pre-computation of homogeneity metrics before evaluating the tissue resistance index for each candidate needle path. By preparing the data structure and performing initial analysis in advance, the system enables rapid evaluation of multiple candidate paths, thus improving measurement precision without significantly impacting overall planning efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, and a system performing a method, for determining an optimal needle path includes generating a plurality of candidate needle paths from image data of a patient, extracting a cuboid of image data around each candidate needle path, calculating a tissue resistance index from each cuboid of image data around each candidate needle path, and calculating a value for each candidate needle path based on the calculated tissue resistance index. The candidate needle path with the lowest value is selected as the optimal needle path. The tissue resistance value may be displayed on a display.