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Image‐based guidance for minimally invasive surgical atrial fibrillation ablation
Author(s) -
Hastenteufel Mark,
Yang Siwei,
Christoph Carsten,
Vetter Marcus,
Meinzer HansPeter,
Wolf Ivo
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
the international journal of medical robotics and computer assisted surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.556
H-Index - 53
eISSN - 1478-596X
pISSN - 1478-5951
DOI - 10.1002/rcs.70
Subject(s) - atrial fibrillation , ablation , medicine , computer science , surgery , cardiology
Purpose Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common arrhythmia and results in an increased risk of ischaemic stroke. Recently, a European consortium has developed a new ablation device for minimally invasive surgical AF treatment. The device is controlled by a medical robot. Due to the minimal invasive usage, surgery using the new device needs appropriate navigation support. In this paper, we describe an image‐based navigation application to guide the new device intraoperatively. Methods The navigation procedure is based on intraoperative ultrasound. Variations in the position of the ablation device are transferred from the software controlling the robot to the navigation system. Due to the flexibility of the ablation device, a deformation model predicts the behaviour during repositioning. Ablation lines are interactively planned. Actually burned ablation lines are visualized during surgery. Several in vitro and ex vivo experimental set‐ups were built up to test the feasibility. Results The navigation workflow was implemented into navigation software using well‐known open‐source software toolkits. The navigation system has been integrated and tested successfully within the overall system. The ablation device could be localized on in vitro and ex vivo ultrasound images. Conclusion The performed trials proved the applicability of the navigation procedure. More in vivo tests are currently being performed to make the new device and the described navigation procedure ready for clinical use. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.