Grant: Proof of Principle Program - Phase I

Fluoroscopy (x-ray) is the standard by which most interventional cardiology procedures are guided. Alternative navigation systems exist that have the ability to track the location of a tool inside a patient during a procedure, but these systems are very expensive to use and may contribute additional sources of error. Therefore, there exists a need to develop an inexpensive and robust method to track the position of interventional devices in three dimensions (3D) using the information available from standard fluoroscopy. Our invention provides a means to determine the 3D location of a catheter using a single two-dimensional planar image. Because x-ray units are already standard units in virtually all hospitals, the additional cost to use 3D navigation technology will be very low. This has the effect of significantly reducing the cost of interventional cardiology procedures, as compared with the use of expensive alternatives currently available on the market. It may also improve the efficacy and reduce the procedure time of many procedures that would not traditionally rely on 3D technology, leading to better patient outcomes. Also, it may have additional health benefits because of its likelihood to reduce the amount of time that a patient is exposed to harmful c-ray radiation during a procedure. The novel system that has been developed for this project has the sensitivity and robustness necessary to measure the 3D position of an interventional device from a single plane fluoroscopic image in real-time. As such, it forms the basis for a new catheter navigation technology that has accuracy, widespread applicability, cost-effectiveness and marketability.