Innovative Solution Offers Detailed, Real-Time 3D CT Images for Stereotactic Needle Guidance

By MedImaging International staff writers
Posted on 26 Apr 2023

Image: CT-Navigation is an innovative solution to help expand interventional CT access (Photo courtesy of GE HealthCare)

Interventional radiology, particularly interventional computed tomography (CT), plays a crucial role in diagnosing and treating diseases. CT-guided interventions provide highly detailed images of internal structures, such as bones, organs, and tumors, allowing clinicians to perform minimally invasive procedures that guide stereotactic needles through the anatomy for biopsies or direct treatment delivery. This approach benefits interventionalists by increasing visibility and confidence in needle placement, while patients receive more accurate and precise care.

GE HealthCare (Chicago, IL, USA) has unveiled its new CT-Navigation system that provides clinicians with detailed, real-time, 3D CT images for stereotactic needle guidance in various care areas, including interventional and oncological procedures, biopsies, ablations, drainage, therapeutics, and more. Traditional CT-guided solutions often require multiple control scans and force interventionalists to awkwardly position themselves and the needle within the CT system's gantry, increasing radiation exposure risk. CT-Navigation, however, allows for a more comfortable and safe experience. Interventionalists can place a sensor on the patient inside the gantry and, after completing scans and removing the patient from the system, can navigate the needle more easily and safely through the patient's anatomy using the sensor and detailed CT images.

The system is designed to show interventionalists the anticipated needle trajectory when planning interventions and help create the best approach. It enables anatomical exploration and planning in real-time using images computed by the system, while remaining close to the patient. Some users have experienced up to a 50% reduction in procedure time. The system also provides real-time 3D navigation during the intervention, allowing for faster, more precise work and the ability to handle complex situations—such as out-of-axial plane trajectories—and reduce control scans, potentially decreasing radiation exposure for both patients and interventionists..

The workflow is simple, easy to learn, and helps reduce variability for both simple and complex procedures while improving reproducibility—a significant need reported by clinicians. New users often gain comfort and confidence with the technology after just six or seven cases. CT-Navigation, which includes a mobile workstation, guidance software, and disposable procedure kit, is approved under the European Union's Medical Devices Regulation (MDR) and has FDA clearance for use in the U.S.

“To achieve precision care, we must provide clinicians with the tools and insights they need to deliver the right treatment, at the right time, to the right patient,” explains Jean-Luc Procaccini, President & CEO, Molecular Imaging & Computed Tomography, GE HealthCare. “CT-Navigation does just that – acting as an anatomical GPS for interventionalists to use and care for patients with increased ease and accuracy. We are thrilled to now increase global access to this innovative solution and its many clinical benefits to healthcare systems around the world.”

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GE HealthCare