A virtual platform for real-time performance analysis of electromagnetic tracking systems for surgical navigation

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21014/acta_imeko.v10i4.1191

Abstract

Electromagnetic Tracking Systems (EMTSs) are widely used in surgical navigation, allowing to improve the outcome of diagnosis and surgical interventions, by providing the surgeon with real-time position of surgical instruments during medical procedures. However, particular effort was dedicated to the development of efficient and robust algorithms, to obtain an accurate estimation of the instrument position for distances from the magnetic field generator beyond 0.5 m. Indeed, the main goal is to improve the limited range of current commercial systems, which strongly affects the freedom of movement of the medical team. Studies are currently being conducted to optimize the magnetic field generator configuration (both geometrical arrangements and electrical properties) since it affects tracking accuracy. In this paper, we propose a virtual platform for assessing the performance of EMTSs for surgical navigation, providing real-time results and statistics, and allowing to track instruments both in real and simulated environments. Simulations and experimental tests are performed to validate the proposed virtual platform, by employing it to assess the performance of a real EMTS. The platform offers a real-time tool to analyze EMTS components and field generator configurations, for a deeper understanding of EMTS technology, thus supporting engineers during system design and characterization.

Author Biographies

Mattia Alessandro Ragolia, Politecnico di Bari

Mattia Alessandro Ragolia received the M.S. degree in automation engineering from the Politecnico di Bari, Bari, Italy, in 2019, where he is currently working towards the Ph.D. degree at the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering.

Since 2018, he has been involved in research projects in the field of electromagnetic tracking for surgical navigation.

His current research interests include metrological characterization of sensors and data acquisition systems, with special regards to electromagnetic tracking systems for surgical navigation, and strain and level 3D-printed sensors.

Dr. Ragolia is a member of the IEEE I&M Society and of the Italian Association “Electrical and Electronic Measurements Group” (GMEE).

Filippo Attivissimo, Politecnico di Bari

Filippo Attivissimo received the M.S. and the Ph.D. degrees in Electronic Engineering from the Polytechnic of Bari, Italy, in 1993 and 1997 respectively. He is Full Professor of Electronic Measurements with the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering of the same Polytechnic.

He has authored or coauthored more than 250 scientific papers, mostly published on international journals or presented at international conferences.

His research interests include electric and electronic measurements on devices and systems, estimation theory, uncertainty evaluation, design of sensors for industry, medicine, and transportation, digital measurements on power electronic systems, computer vision and A-to-D converter modeling, characterization, and optimization, digital signal processing, development and characterization of sensors for environmental applications and renewable energies, and power quality systems and measurements for medical applications.

Dr. Attivissimo is a member of the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society and the Italian Group of Electrical and Electronic Measurements.

Attilio Di Nisio, Politecnico di Bari

Attilio Di Nisio was born in Bari, Italy, in 1980. He received the M.S. (Hons.) degree and the Ph.D. degree in electronic engineering from the Polytechnic of Bari, in 2005 and 2009, respectively, where he is currently Assistant Professor (RTDb) in Electrical and Electronic Measurements.

Since 2005, his research spanned the fields of analog-to-digital and digital-to-analog converters modeling and testing, estimation theory, software for automatic test equipment, sensors, image processing for quality control applications and document understanding, medical imaging, photovoltaic panels modeling and testing, environmental monitoring systems and soil mechanics testing equipment.

His current research interests include DSP-based systems for power quality analysis, UAV performance measurement, wireless sensor networks and electromagnetic tracking systems for surgical navigation.

Dr. Di Nisio is a member of the IEEE I&M Society and of the Italian Association “Electrical and Electronic Measurements Group” (GMEE).

Anna Maria Lucia Lanzolla, Politecnico di Bari

Anna Maria Lucia Lanzolla received the M.S. degree in electronic engineering and the Ph.D. degree in electrical engineering from the Polytechnic of Bari, Bari, Italy, in 1995 and 1999, respectively.

Since 1995, she has worked on research projects in the field of digital signal processing for measurements with the Polytechnic of Bari, where she is currently an Assistant Professor with the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering.

Her research interests are in the field of electric and electronic measurement on devices and systems, including estimation theory, optimization of spectral estimation algorithms for monitoring of distortion levels in power systems, and modeling techniques for monitoring and controlling of environmental quantities.

She is a member of the IEEE Instrumentation and Measurement Society and the Italian Group of Electrical and Electronic Measurements.

Marco Scarpetta, Politecnico di Bari

Marco Scarpetta was born in Acquaviva delle Fonti, Italy, in 1993. He received the M.S. degree in Electronic Engineering from the Polytechnic University of Bari (Italy) in 2018, where he is currently working towards the Ph.D. degree with the Department of Electrical and Information Engineering.

His current research interests include signal processing, reflectometry techniques and artificial intelligence.

Dr. Scarpetta is a member of the IEEE I&M Society and of the Italian Association “Electrical and Electronic Measurements Group” (GMEE).

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Published

2021-12-30

Issue

Vol. 10 No. 4 (2021)

Section

Research Papers

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