The Best Marker to Position the Arms of a Robotic Surgical Assistant in MRI

Document Type : Original Article(s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, School of Biomedical Engineering Amir kKbir University of Technology, Tehran, Iran

2 School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Background: In this study, we tried to choose the proper material to use on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-compatible robot. The robot is to take soft tissue samples in an image guided process. Since this robot is made of MRI-compatible material, its links are invisible in the MR images. Finding such markers would enable us to distinguish the position of links in the images and as a result in the real world.Methods: Four materials compatible with magnetic environments, including liquid paraffin, nitroglycerin, vitamin E pills, and silicon oil, were tested to find the most appropriate one to be used as the marker. In addition to compatibility with MRI environment, the material had to have suitable contrast to avoid blurry images. The tests were performed in a Philips MRI system at 1 and 1.5 Tesla.Findings: Liquid paraffin, nitroglycerin, vitamin E pills, and silicon oil scored 50, 62.35, 45.6, and 53.15, respectively. Most of the evaluated factors were satisfied by nitroglycerin.Conclusion: After all tests and considerations, nitroglycerin was selected as the best material. 

Keywords

References

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Journal of Isfahan Medical School
Volume 29, Issue 174 - Serial Number 174
November and December 2011
Pages 3186-3193

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History

  • Receive Date: 14 August 2011
  • Revise Date: 08 May 2024
  • Accept Date: 06 April 2022

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