Endovascular navigation in patients: vessel-based registration of electromagnetic tracking to preoperative images.

Electromagnetic tracking of instruments combined with preoperative images can supplement fluoroscopy for guiding endovascular aortic repair (EVAR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the in-vivo accuracy of a vessel-based registration algorithm for matching electromagnetically tracked positions of an endovascular instrument to preoperative computed tomography angiography. Five patients undergoing elective EVAR were included, and a clinically available semi-automatic 3D-3D registration algorithm, based on similarity measures computed over the entire image, was used for reference.

A Steerable and Electromagnetically Tracked Catheter: Navigation Performance Compared With Image Fusion in a Swine Model.

Purpose: Cannulation of visceral vessels is necessary during fenestrated and branched endovascular aortic repair. In an attempt to reduce the associated radiation and contrast dose, an electromagnetically (EM) trackable and manually steerable catheter has been developed. The purpose of this preclinical swine study was to evaluate the cannulation performance and compare the cannulation performance using either EM tracking or image fusion as navigation tools.

Vessel-based rigid registration for endovascular therapy of the abdominal aorta.

Background: Combining electromagnetic tracking of instruments with preoperatively acquired images can provide detailed visualization for intraoperative guidance and reduce the need for fluoroscopy and contrast. In this study, we investigated the accuracy of a vessel-based registration method designed for matching preoperative image and electromagnetically tracked positions for endovascular therapy.

Material And Methods: An open-source registration method was used to match the centerline extracted from computed tomography (CT) to electromagnetically tracked positions within a vascular phantom representing the abdominal aorta with bifurcations.

Manually Steerable Catheter With Improved Agility.

Purpose: A prototype steerable catheter was designed for endovascular procedures. This technical pilot study reports the initial experience using the catheter for cannulation of visceral arteries.

Technique: The 7F catheter was manually steerable with operator control handle for bending and rotation of the tip.