A Hybrid Catheter Localisation Framework in Echocardiography Based on Electromagnetic Tracking and Deep Learning Segmentation

Abstract

Interventional cardiology procedure is an important type of minimally invasive surgery that deals with the catheter-based treatment of cardiovascular diseases, such as coronary artery diseases, strokes, peripheral arterial diseases, and aortic diseases. Ultrasound imaging, also called echocardiography, is a typical imaging tool that monitors catheter puncturing. Localising a medical device accurately during cardiac interventions can help improve the procedure’s safety and reliability under ultrasound imaging. However, external device tracking and image-based tracking methods can only provide a partial solution. Thus, we proposed a hybrid framework, with the combination of both methods to localise the catheter tip target in an automatic way. The external device used was an electromagnetic tracking system from North Digital Inc (NDI), and the ultrasound image analysis was based on UNet, a deep learning network for semantic segmentation. From the external method, the tip’s location was determined precisely, and the deep learning platform segmented the exact catheter tip automatically. This novel hybrid localisation framework combines the advantages of external electromagnetic (EM) tracking and the deep learning-based image method, which offers a new solution to identify the moving medical device in low-resolution ultrasound images.

Bend‐insensitive fiber optic ultrasonic tracking probe for cardiovascular interventions

“…However, with TEE, this identification can be very challenging, as the tip can readily stray from 2D imaging planes and can have poor echogenicity. 5 Even with 3D TEE, accurately identifying the distal ends of devices can be very challenging. 6,7 Ultrasonic tracking is a method for localizing an interventional device relative to an external imaging probe that has recently undergone rapid development.…”

“…Identifying the location of the guide catheter tip relative to the TEE imaging probe can be crucial for successful outcomes. However, with TEE, this identification can be very challenging, as the tip can readily stray from 2D imaging planes and can have poor echogenicity 5 . Even with 3D TEE, accurately identifying the distal ends of devices can be very challenging 6,7 …”

“…However, with TEE, this identification can be very challenging, as the tip can readily stray from 2D imaging planes and can have poor echogenicity. 5 Even with 3D TEE, accurately identifying the distal ends of devices can be very challenging. 6 , 7 …”