Projector-based augmented reality system for interventional visualization inside MRI scanners

Abstract

Background: Navigation support in interventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is separated from the operating field, which makes it difficult to interpret positions and orientations and to coordinate the necessary hand movements. Methods: We developed a projector-based augmented reality system to enable visual navigation of tracked instruments on pre-planned paths and visualization of risk structures directly on the patient inside the MRI bore. To assess the accuracy of the system, a user study was carried out with clinicians in a needle navigation test scenario. Results: The targets were reached with an error of 1.7 ± 0.5 mm and the entry points with an error of 1.7 ± 0.8 mm. Conclusion: The accuracy results are similar to those reached by live image–guided interventions and related work and confirm that this projective augmented reality prototype for the interventional MRI can serve as a platform for current and future research in augmented reality visualization and dynamic registration.