VR enables interventional radiologists to improve treatments

Immersive virtual reality (VR) may enable interventionalradiologists to improve treatments using real-time 3D images from inside apatient’s blood vessels. New research presented at the Society ofInterventional Radiology’s 2019 Annual Scientific Meeting shows that theinteractive technology could provide faster, more efficient treatment, withless radiation exposure and greater precision, ease and confidence.

“Virtual reality will change how we look at a patient’sanatomy during an IR treatment,” said Wayne Monsky, M.D., PhD, a professor ofradiology at the University of Washington and lead author of the study. “Thistechnology will allow physicians to travel inside a patient’s body instead ofrelying solely on 2D, black and white images.”

The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the feasibilityof using a catheter with electromagnetic sensors projected onto a VR headset tosee and steer the catheter through the anatomy to certain blood vessels.

Using a CT angiography scan, researchers created a 3D printedmodel and a holographic image of blood vessels in a patient’s abdomen andpelvis. Monksy’s team of radiologists guided hi-tech catheters through the 3Dprinted model while the tracking system showed the image from the catheterthrough the VR headset. They compared the time taken to steer the catheter fromthe entry point of the femoral artery to three different targeted vesselsversus the time the process took using conventional fluoroscopic guidance, aswell as time taken in similar real-life clinical angiographic procedures.

In 18 simulated procedures, researchers found the mean timeto reach the three targeted vessels using VR was much lower than influoroscopy, the standard practice that uses an x-ray image. In the firstvessel, virtual reality took 17.6 seconds versus 70.3 seconds using thestandard practice on the model and 171.2 seconds in the real-lifeprocedure.

With the improved efficiency, the researchers believe VRtechnology will create safer treatments by reducing the amount of radiation exposureto both patient and physician. They say it would also increase access to IRtreatments.

“Currently, the life-saving potential of IR is limited tohospitals and areas with the resources to invest in image-guided technology,”said Monsky. “There are three-billion people worldwide in rural areas who don'thave this access. This technology could allow for portability and accessibilityso that these procedures are brought to rural areas using nothing more than asuitcase.”

Researchers also surveyed the practitioners who had triedthe technology, and they reported that VR improved the ease, precision andefficiency of the treatment. Additionally, the users said they felt moreconfident in their abilities.

The VR software was developed through a University ofWashington business incubator that supported development of a startup, PyrusMedical, of which Monsky serves as the chief medical officer. The researchersare continuing to conduct research in 3D models, as well as animal studies, asthey begin the regulatory process to apply for approval from the Food and DrugAdministration.

Abstract 294: Virtual Reality (VR), dynamic holographic,display of the vascular anatomy and a co-registered angiographic catheter withelectromagnetic (EM) tracking for the guidance of endovascular procedures. Apilot phantom study to evaluate the feasibility of angiography-freeendovascular procedures. W. Monsky; R. James; S. Seslar. University ofWashington Medical Center, Seattle, WA; University of Washington, Seattle, WA.SIR Annual Scientific Meeting, March 23–28, 2019.