Evaluation of Accuracy and Performance of a Novel, Fully Gantry Integrated 3D Laser System for Computed Tomography Guided Needle Placement: A Phantom Study

Abstract

The purpose of this phantom study was to compare the accuracy, speed and technical performance of CT guided needle placement using a conventional technique versus a novel, gantry integrated laser guidance system for both an expert and a novice. A total of 80 needle placements were performed in an abdominal phantom using conventional CT guidance and a laser guidance system. Analysis of pooled results of expert and novice showed a significant reduction of time (277 vs. 204 s, p = 0.001) and of the number of needle corrections (3.28 vs. 1.58, p p = 0.213) or angular deviation (2.85 vs. 2.18°, p = 0.079) was found. With either approach, the expert was significantly faster (conventional guidance: 207 s vs. 346 s, p p p = 0.027; laser guidance: 2 vs. 1, p = 0.001) than the novice. The laser guidance system helped both the expert and the novice to perform CT guided interventions in a phantom faster and with fewer needle corrections compared to the conventional technique, while achieving similar accuracy.

Keywords

• computed tomography
• intervention
• laser-guidance
• phantom
• safety
• radiation exposure