This graduation project consists of the design of the needle control device for MRI-guided interventions. It is an apparatus that grabs and steers a flexible needle remotely, so it could be used in an MRI while the physician controls the needle based on the scans. In this way, the physician has a clear sight of the position of the needle and the targeted tissue. He could perform the intervention with a higher accuracy, which could result in a higher success rate. Furthermore, a great benefit of this way of performing interventions is that the targeted tissue is found directly and no extra internal tissue needs to be damaged. It results in a shorter recovery time for the patient and therefore, higher patient satisfaction and lower costs. All in all, the needle control device increases the success rate of interventions, increase the patient satisfaction and could lower costs.
The principle of controlling a needle depends on a hypothesis which reads:
“if the needle is pre-curved, the needle could be steered by translational and rotational movement towards a target.”
If the pre-curved needle moves forwards, it will make a curve in the brain since it follows the path of least resistance. If the needle is rotating, it will move forward. With these functionalities, a mapped-out path can be made. And so, the physician could steer a needle while the patient lays in the MRI and the physician is located in the control room. The needle is remote-controlled.
During the project, a focus was set on the elaboration and embodiment phase of designing. A functional prototype has been developed and a start is made with the final design. The next step would be to integrate the results of both processes.