Real-time needle guidance for venipuncture based on optical coherence tomography

ABSTRACT

An algorithm for real–time venipuncture needle guidance is described, using an optical coherence tomography (OCT) probe that emits light pulses at fixed angular intervals along a cone, giving accurate distance measurements to points on the blood vessel. Using this data, a method is developed to visually display the blood vessel for needle guidance. A least–squares fit to a general quadric surface, specified by a symmetric matrix, is performed. For a cylindrical blood vessel, this provides an estimate for its orientation, from which its location and radius can be determined. The algorithm is compatible, in efficiency and robustness, with real–time implementation.

KEYWORDS:

• Needle guidance
• optical coherence tomography
• quadric surfaces
• least–squares fit
• cylinder characterisation

Acknowledgments

This work was supported in part by National Science Foundation SBIR Phase II grant 1853242 to WestFace Medical.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics

No ethical issues were incurred in conducting the research described herein.

Notes

1. Henceforth, ‘cylinder’ and ‘cone’ refer exclusively to right circular cylinders and cones, whose sections by any plane orthogonal to their axes is a circle.

2. It may degenerate into a collection of simpler curves (lines, conics, and cubics) whose degrees sum to 4.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported in part by National Science Foundation SBIR Phase II grant 1853242 to WestFace Medical; National Science Foundation [SBIR Phase II grant 1853242];

Notes on contributors

Rida T. Farouki

Rida T. Farouki is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of California, Davis. He is Co-Editor-in-Chief of the Elsevier journal Computer Aided Geometric Design, and author or co-author of more than 200 research papers. His research interests include applied mathematics, numerical analysis, computer-aided design and manufacturing, and real-time motion control.

Jack R. Swett

Jack Swett is a graduate student. He graduated magna cum laude from University of Vermont in 2018 with a BS in mechanical engineering and a minor in computer science. He is currently pursuing a PhD in mechanical engineering from the University of California, Davis. His current research interests include path planning, CNC machining, manufacturing automation, and manufacturing education.

Rachel Ward Rohlen

Rachel Ward Rohlen is the co-founder and CEO of WestFace Medical — a start-up medical device company focused on improving vascular access. She has over 10 years experience in the medical device industry and has been awarded three small business innovation research (SBIR) grants from the National Institute of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF). She also serves as the President for CHARITYSMITH National Society of Memorial Funds.

David B. Smith

David Smith is the senior software engineer at Westface Medical. He has earned a Bachelor's degree in Bioengineering from the University of California, San Diego, and a Law degree from the University of California, Davis. His current interests include biomedical imaging, signal processing, and medical device design.