Real-time intra-operative Guidewire Tracking and Localization

Abstract

For the current interventional workflow, x-ray images are used for intra-operative navigation. During the intervention, a guidewire is inserted into the patient‘s vascular system and is advanced to reach the target area under fluoroscopic guidance to provide treatment such as stenting, ablation or drug delivery. Meanwhile, guidewire manipulation, including delivery and rotation, requires a high level of technical skill to avoid damage to the vessel wall, which could lead to perforation and hemorrhage, both of which are fatal. Hence, the shape and position of the guidewire acquired in real-time is necessary for a successful intervention. Due to the complex anatomy of the heart and the small size of a guidewire, continuous visual supervision of the guidewire in the X-ray image, mapping its localization information from 2d projection space to patient-specific 3D anatomic space and precise controlling is a demanding task for surgeons as well as a heavy workload.

Hence, in this project, our goal is to develop an image-based solution that makes use of pre- and intra-operative medical data (i.e., pre-operative 3D MRA/CTA volumes, intra-operative x-ray images and patient physical signals), and provides real-time guidewire localization and posture in 3D patient-specific anatomic space.

Link: Homepage of project at DHM