title: Development of an auxiliary system for the execution of vascular catheter interventions with a reduced radiological risk; system description and first experimental results.
abstract: Vascular catheterization is a common procedure in clinical medicine. It is normally performed by a specialist using an X-ray fluoroscopic guide and contrast-media. In the present paper, an image-guided navigation system which indicates a path providing guidance to the desired target inside the vascular tree is described with the aim of reducing the exposure of personnel and patients to X-rays during the catheterization procedure. A 3D model of the patient vascular tree, reconstructed with data collected by an angiography before starting the intervention, is used as a guide map instead of fluoroscopic scans. An accurate spatial correspondence between the body of the patient and the 3D reconstructed vascular model is established and, by means of a position indicator installed over the catheter tip, the real-time position/orientation of the tip is indicated correctly. This paper describes the system and the operational procedures necessary to use the proposed method efficiently during a catheter intervention. Preliminary experimental results on a phantom are also reported.
authors.affiliation: INFM, c/o Department of Science and Biomedical Technologies, University of L'Aquila, Via Vetoio 10, 67100 Coppito, L'Aquila, Italy. Giuseppe.placidi@cc.univaq.it
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Placidi
authors.forename: Danilo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franchi
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marsili
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gallo
mesh_terms: D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D007558:Italy; D012308:Risk Management / Q000458:organization & administration*