3D Probe Navigation System for Tumor Ablation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current focal heat destruction methods for tumors face challenges in accurately navigating probes to complex tumor geometries and surrounding tissues, leading to incomplete destruction due to two-dimensional imaging limitations and potential electromagnetic wave cancellation.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for navigating a probe to a target location within a patient's body using three-dimensional imaging, real-time registration, and predictive analytics to calculate optimal probe trajectories, accounting for anatomical shifts and heat sinking effects, ensuring complete tumor destruction without damaging surrounding tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If two-dimensional imaging is used for probe navigation, then the imaging system is simple and easy to operate, but the probe placement precision and tumor destruction completeness deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional fluoroscopic imaging to three-dimensional imaging (CT or MRI-based) to provide comprehensive spatial information about tumor geometry and surrounding tissues. This dimensional upgrade enables accurate probe trajectory planning and real-time navigation, resolving the limitation of incomplete tumor destruction while accepting increased system complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary 3D imaging and tumor geometry analysis before probe insertion to plan optimal trajectories. This advance preparation allows the navigation system to account for complex tumor shapes and surrounding anatomy, ensuring precise probe placement while managing overall system complexity through structured workflow
2Reliability
If multiple probes are used to treat large tumors, then the tumor destruction effectiveness is improved, but electromagnetic wave cancellation occurs reducing energy delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The navigation system provides real-time feedback on probe positions relative to the 3D tumor model, allowing operators to adjust probe placements to avoid electromagnetic wave cancellation. This feedback mechanism ensures that multiple probes are positioned optimally to collectively destroy the tumor while maintaining energy delivery efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system tailors the energy delivery strategy to local tumor characteristics by planning probe trajectories that account for tumor geometry and surrounding tissues. Each probe's energy contribution is optimized for its specific location, ensuring effective tumor destruction without harmful interference while adapting to local anatomical conditions
3Measurement precision
If probe trajectories are planned without accounting for anatomical shifts, then the planning process is simple and quick, but the probe placement accuracy deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary 3D imaging and creates a detailed tumor model before the procedure. This advance preparation includes identifying anatomical landmarks and planning trajectories that account for potential shifts, enabling accurate real-time navigation without excessive planning time during the actual procedure
Solution Approach 2:
Real-time feedback during probe insertion monitors actual probe positions against the pre-planned trajectories. This feedback allows for immediate adjustments to account for anatomical shifts, maintaining probe placement accuracy while minimizing additional planning time through structured navigation support
4Measurement precision
If three-dimensional imaging and real-time registration are implemented, then the probe navigation precision is improved, but the system complexity and operational difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a computer-based navigation system as an intermediary that automatically processes 3D imaging data, performs real-time registration, and provides guidance feedback. This intermediary handles the computational complexity, allowing operators to benefit from high-precision navigation without directly managing the complex underlying systems
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a virtual 3D copy of the patient's anatomy from imaging data and overlays it with real-time probe position information. This visual copying and overlay technique simplifies the interface for operators, enabling precise navigation through intuitive graphical representation rather than complex data manipulation
Data Source
AI summary
A method for navigating a probe to a location within a body of a patient, the method comprising visualizing a three-dimensional image of a region of a body of a patient; receiving a selection of a target location within said three-dimensional image of a region of a patient's body; determining and visualizing a preferred pathway for the probe to follow from an external entry point on the patient's body to the target location; visualizing the preferred pathway for the probe simultaneously with an indication of the current actual position of the probe in real time such that the simultaneous visualizations enables a user to align the current actual position of the probe with the preferred pathway; and updating and visualizing an indication of the current actual position of the probe in real time as the probe is advanced to the target location.