Electromagnetic Tracking for Registration and Navigation in Endovascular Aneurysm Repair: A Phantom Study

Objective: To assess the feasibility of using an electromagnetic tracking for both registration and navigation in endovascular aneurysm repair. Materials and methods: A registration process was implemented to align computed tomography (CT) data and electromagnetic tracking data. Two abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) phantoms were used, a rigid plastic AAA model (phantom A) and a soft silicon AM model (phantom B). A pre-procedural CT volume was acquired for each phantom. Intra-operative simulation was performed by placing each phantom in the magnetic field of the tracking device. Using a modified electromagnetic catheter, a set of three-dimensional positions was acquired in the phantom's aortic lumen. Pre-procedural a images and intra-procedural tracked positions were registered. Four reference points were used to calculate the registration accuracy of phantom A. Three surgeons simulated catheterisation of the left renal artery with phantom B using only image-guided procedure software. Results: The mean registration error was 1.3 mm (range 0.88-1.89). The median time for left renal catheterisation was 22 s (range 15-59). Conclusion: Registration of CT data and electromagnetic tracking data is feasible using catheter positions in the aorto-iliac structure as landmark. This navigation system could reduce X-ray exposure time and the use of contrast medium injections. (C) 2012 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.