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.

Key words::

• Bronchoscopy
• electromagnetic tracking
• navigation
• lung
• cone beam CT

Acknowledgement

This work was supported by Unimed Innovation (Trondheim), the Ministry of Health and Social Affairs of Norway through the National Centre for 3D Ultrasound in Surgery (St. Olavs University Hospital, SINTEF and NTNU, Trondheim, Norway), and Kreftfondet at St. Olavs Hospital. The authors also wish to thank Professor Rolf Walstad for assistance and valuable discussions regarding bronchoscopy in the clinic, the Future Operating Room team at St. Olavs Hospital, and the staff at the Animal lab at St. Olavs Hospital for their efforts during our animal trials.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.