Electromagnetic image navigation technology as a powerful guarantee for precise localization of puncture

Recently, our department has introduced a new equipment for puncture navigation – electromagnetic image navigator, which provides a new weapon for image-guided percutaneous puncture technique. The traditional CT localization and guided puncture requires scanning the target lesion and posting the localization mark, then scanning again to confirm the correct position of the puncture point, then gradually inserting the needle, and then scanning again after each insertion to confirm the direction and depth of the puncture, and then scanning again and again to adjust the direction and depth of the puncture in order to accurately reach the target lesion. The addition of electromagnetic image navigator can realize virtual real-time guidance of puncture after CT scanning, which greatly saves the puncture time and reduces the risk of puncture. The principle is to put the patient in a good position, in the need to puncture the target lesion area on the opposite side of the torso attached to the electromagnetic induction sheet, and then carry out CT scanning, CT scanning field to include the target lesion and the surface of the electromagnetic induction sheet, and then the CT image will be transmitted to the electromagnetic image navigator host, image reconstruction, into the navigation program, and then another induction magnetic head clamped in the puncture needle, the tip of the needle can be real-time display of the skin level of the CT image, the needle level of real-time guidance. The CT image at the needle level accurately reproduces the location and scope of the target lesion, as well as the direction and depth in which the needle tip needs to advance. With the adjustment of the needle tip direction, the navigator image will real-time display the body structure and target lesion location and morphology in the direction of the needle tip advancement. Under the guidance of the electromagnetic image navigator, the puncture can be started after adjusting the location of the needle tip on the surface of the body and the needle tip position will be displayed in the real-time navigator image when the needle tip is being punctured. The needle tip position can be displayed on the navigation image in real time during the puncture, which can be verified by CT scanning after reaching the target lesion. Basically, the puncture of the target lesion can be completed accurately at one time for the organs and tissues with no movement. The introduction of electromagnetic image navigator makes the puncture of various parts, especially the puncture of dangerous areas, more controllable and precise. Objectively, the accuracy of microwave ablation, radiofrequency ablation, and argon helium knife ablation can be further improved, and the operation time can be significantly shortened. For larger tumors, the ablation range can be more precisely controlled during multi-target overlapping ablation, effectively reducing the ablation blind spot that may occur during overlapping ablation. The complete ablation rate of large tumors can be further improved. Cheng Hongtao, Department of Interventional Radiology, Henan Cancer Hospital, China