Technical Validation of a Training Workstation for Magnet-Based Ultrasound Guidance of Fine-Needle Punctures

It has been demonstrated that needle guidance systems can enhance the precision and safety of ultrasound-guided punctures in human medicine. Systems that permit the utilization of commercially available standard needles, instead of those that necessitate the acquisition of costly, proprietary needle...

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Main Authors: Christian Kühnel, Martin Freesmeyer, Falk Gühne, Leonie Schreiber, Steffen Schrott, Reno Popp, Philipp Seifert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Sensors
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/13/4102
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author Christian Kühnel
Martin Freesmeyer
Falk Gühne
Leonie Schreiber
Steffen Schrott
Reno Popp
Philipp Seifert
author_facet Christian Kühnel
Martin Freesmeyer
Falk Gühne
Leonie Schreiber
Steffen Schrott
Reno Popp
Philipp Seifert
author_sort Christian Kühnel
collection DOAJ
description It has been demonstrated that needle guidance systems can enhance the precision and safety of ultrasound-guided punctures in human medicine. Systems that permit the utilization of commercially available standard needles, instead of those that necessitate the acquisition of costly, proprietary needles, are of particular interest. The objective of this phantom study is to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of magnet-based ultrasound needle guidance systems, which superimpose the position of the needle tip and a predictive trajectory line on the live ultrasound image. We conducted fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules. The needles utilized in these procedures are of a slender gauge (21–27G), with lengths ranging from 40 to 80 mm. A dedicated training workstation with integrated software-based analyses of the movement of the needle tip was utilized in 240 standardized phantom punctures (angle: 45°; target depth: 20 mm). No system failures occurred, and the target achieved its aim in all cases. The analysis of the software revealed stable procedural parameters with minor relative deviations from the predefined reference values regarding the distance of needle tip movement (−4.2% to +6.7%), needle tilt (−6.4% to +9.6%), and penetration depth (−7.5% to +4.5%). These deviations appeared to increase with the use of thin needles and, to a lesser extent, long needles. They are attributed to the slight bending of the needle inside the (phantom) tissue. The training workstation we employed is thus suitable for use in educational settings. Nevertheless, in intricate clinical puncture scenarios—for instance, in the case of unfavorable localized small lesions near critical anatomical structures, particularly those involving thin needles—caution is advised, and the system should not be relied upon exclusively.
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spelling doaj-art-7167bebf0de24866a0bcc6d2f90101142025-08-20T02:36:23ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-06-012513410210.3390/s25134102Technical Validation of a Training Workstation for Magnet-Based Ultrasound Guidance of Fine-Needle PuncturesChristian Kühnel0Martin Freesmeyer1Falk Gühne2Leonie Schreiber3Steffen Schrott4Reno Popp5Philipp Seifert6Clinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, GermanyClinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, GermanyClinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, GermanyClinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, GermanyClinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, GermanyeZono AG, 07743 Jena, GermanyClinic of Nuclear Medicine, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, GermanyIt has been demonstrated that needle guidance systems can enhance the precision and safety of ultrasound-guided punctures in human medicine. Systems that permit the utilization of commercially available standard needles, instead of those that necessitate the acquisition of costly, proprietary needles, are of particular interest. The objective of this phantom study is to evaluate the reliability and accuracy of magnet-based ultrasound needle guidance systems, which superimpose the position of the needle tip and a predictive trajectory line on the live ultrasound image. We conducted fine-needle aspiration cytology of thyroid nodules. The needles utilized in these procedures are of a slender gauge (21–27G), with lengths ranging from 40 to 80 mm. A dedicated training workstation with integrated software-based analyses of the movement of the needle tip was utilized in 240 standardized phantom punctures (angle: 45°; target depth: 20 mm). No system failures occurred, and the target achieved its aim in all cases. The analysis of the software revealed stable procedural parameters with minor relative deviations from the predefined reference values regarding the distance of needle tip movement (−4.2% to +6.7%), needle tilt (−6.4% to +9.6%), and penetration depth (−7.5% to +4.5%). These deviations appeared to increase with the use of thin needles and, to a lesser extent, long needles. They are attributed to the slight bending of the needle inside the (phantom) tissue. The training workstation we employed is thus suitable for use in educational settings. Nevertheless, in intricate clinical puncture scenarios—for instance, in the case of unfavorable localized small lesions near critical anatomical structures, particularly those involving thin needles—caution is advised, and the system should not be relied upon exclusively.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/13/4102training workstationultrasound guidedneedle punctureaugmented reality
spellingShingle Christian Kühnel
Martin Freesmeyer
Falk Gühne
Leonie Schreiber
Steffen Schrott
Reno Popp
Philipp Seifert
Technical Validation of a Training Workstation for Magnet-Based Ultrasound Guidance of Fine-Needle Punctures
Sensors
training workstation
ultrasound guided
needle puncture
augmented reality
title Technical Validation of a Training Workstation for Magnet-Based Ultrasound Guidance of Fine-Needle Punctures
title_full Technical Validation of a Training Workstation for Magnet-Based Ultrasound Guidance of Fine-Needle Punctures
title_fullStr Technical Validation of a Training Workstation for Magnet-Based Ultrasound Guidance of Fine-Needle Punctures
title_full_unstemmed Technical Validation of a Training Workstation for Magnet-Based Ultrasound Guidance of Fine-Needle Punctures
title_short Technical Validation of a Training Workstation for Magnet-Based Ultrasound Guidance of Fine-Needle Punctures
title_sort technical validation of a training workstation for magnet based ultrasound guidance of fine needle punctures
topic training workstation
ultrasound guided
needle puncture
augmented reality
url https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/13/4102
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