A device for real-time measurement of catheter-motion and input to a catheter navigation system

Technological development of devices used in image-guided surgery and therapy has progressed due to the potential advantages such technology can bring to procedure efficacy and safety. This paper describes the technical design of a real-time catheter-motion sensor for use in investigating applied motion in catheter-based interventions and for use as an input device for a remote catheter navigation system. The device is comprised of three stages: the first two are passive stages used to measure axial and radial motion of the catheter and the third stage is an active brake used to impede motion. As a catheter is moved through the device, axial and radial measurement is achieved by mechanically coupling two optical encoders to the catheter. An electronic 24-bit counter and micro-controller are used to record incremental motion of the catheter. A computer loaded with a custom Python driver initializes and controls the micro-controller through a RS-232 port. The use of real clinical catheters with this device will allow the device to be used as an input to an image-guided remote catheter navigation system. User feedback may be achieved by linking a sensor in the slave device of a remote catheter navigation system, with the feedback system of the device.