title: Image guidance for spinal facet injections using tracked ultrasound.
abstract: Anesthetic nerve blocks are a common therapy performed in hospitals around the world to alleviate acute and chronic pain. Tracking systems have shown considerable promise in other forms of therapy, but little has been done to apply this technology in the field of anesthesia. We are developing a guidance system for combining tracked needles with non-invasive ultrasound (US) and patient-specific geometric models. In experiments with phantoms two augmented reality (AR) guidance systems were compared to the exclusive use of US for lumbar facet injection therapy. Anesthetists and anesthesia residents were able to place needles within 0.57 mm of the intended targets using our AR systems compared to 5.77 mm using US alone. A preliminary cadaver study demonstrated the system was able to accurately place radio opaque dye on targets. The combination of real time US with tracked tools and AR guidance has the potential to replace CT and fluoroscopic guidance, thus reducing radiation dose to patients and clinicians, as well as reducing health care costs.
authors.affiliation: Imaging Research Laboratory, Robarts Research Institute, London, Canada. jmoore@imaging.robarts.ca
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: Colin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Clarke
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bainbridge
authors.forename: Chris
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wedlake
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wiles
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pace
authors.forename: Terry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peters
mesh_terms: D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000379:methods*; D009407:Nerve Block / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D025321:Surgery, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods*; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D021801:Zygapophyseal Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
chemical_list: D000779:Anesthetics, Local