System for Integrated Image Guidance

Unmet Need
A variety of medical interventions involve the placement of an interventional device within the patient for the purpose of biopsy or therapy.  Accurate placement of the device can be a challenge, particularly in joints.

Technology Overview
Johns Hopkins faculty member, Dr. Jeffrey Siewerdsen, has developed a system that combines and integrates multi-modality imaging and real-time tracking for purposes of precise localization and guidance in placing an interventional device within a patient. A specific embodiment is described involving an ultrasound imaging system, an x-ray imaging system (capable of fluoroscopy, tomosynthesis, and/or cone-beam CT (CBCT)) and a real-time tracking system capable of tracking the position of the ultrasound transducer, the x-ray imaging system gantry, an interventional device (e.g., a needle), the patient, and the patient support table. Combination of the modalities provides capability for enhanced, automatically co-localized visualization of multi-modality images in relation to the position of the tracked interventional device. Integration of the imaging and tracking subsystems allows innovative means by which the position and functionality of the x-ray imaging system is controlled by the position of the ultrasound system (or the tracked interventional device). Such capabilities could offer improved imaging modes (e.g., better utilization of tomosynthesis driven by a tracked instrument), improved image orientation and field of view placement (e.g., coordinated by a tracked instrument on or in the patient), reduced radiation dose (e.g., virtual fluoroscopy from views prescribed by a tracked instrument), improved patient safety (e.g., reduced risk of collision between the moving x-ray gantry and patient or support table), reduced procedure time, and improved precision in placement of the interventional device. The concept is extensible to a spectrum of medical interventions involving minimally invasive placement of a device (e.g., needle or ablative probe) within the patient (e.g, breast, bone, neck, lung, abdomen, or pelvis). The concept is similarly extensible to a variety of multi-modality imaging systems coordinated for purposes of image guidance.

Stage of Development
The system has yet to be reduced to practice.

Category(s):