title: A novel research platform for electromagnetic navigated bronchoscopy using cone beam CT imaging and an animal model.
abstract: Electromagnetic guided bronchoscopy is a new field of research, essential for the development of advanced investigation of the airways and lung tissue. Consecutive problem-based solutions and refinements are urgent requisites to achieve improvements. For that purpose, our intention is to build a complete research platform for electromagnetic guided bronchoscopy. The experimental interventional electromagnetic field tracking system in conjunction with a C-arm cone beam CT unit is presented in this paper. The animal model and the navigation platform performed well and the aims were achieved; the 3D localization of foreign bodies and their navigated and tracked removal, assessment of tracking accuracy that showed a high level of precision, and assessment of image quality. The platform may prove to be a suitable platform for further research and development and a full-fledged electromagnetic guided bronchoscopy navigation system. The inclusion of the C-arm cone beam CT unit in the experimental setup adds a number of new possibilities for diagnostic procedures and accuracy measurements. Among other future challenges that need to be solved are the interaction between the C-arm and the electromagnetic navigation field, as we demonstrate in this feasibility study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonology, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. hakon.o.leira@ntnu.no
authors.forename: Håkon Olav
authors.initials: HO
authors.lastname: Leira
authors.forename: Tore
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amundsen
authors.forename: Geir Arne
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Tangen
authors.forename: Lars Eirik
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Bø
authors.forename: Frode
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Manstad-Hulaas
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Langø
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D055590:Electromagnetic Phenomena; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D023421:Models, Animal; D013552:Swine