Navigation System for Endoscopic Ultrasonography

Introduction & Aim:

It is rather difficult to understand biliopancreas anatomy with EUS and it takes rather long time to do it too. Now we have been collaborated with Olympus to develop a navigation system for EUS and will present about newly developed navigation system.

Subjects & Methods:

From April of 2005, we have tried to make a navigation system for EUS with magnetic coiling system, like UPD for colonoscope. Its principle is of the same as UPD. Although its sensor of UPD for colonscope locates behind patients, the sensor of EUS-navigation system located in the scope and magnetic coiling system locates behind patients.

We have examined a volunteer with multi-detector computer tomography (MDCT) to obtain three dimensional data of biliopancreas system in supine and left lateral position. And we have also examined the same volunteer with EUS and compared with MDCT data.

Summary of Results:

Compared with MDCT data in supine and left lateral position, biliopancreas system moves 2 or more cm to the left. Then we have input MDCT data in left lateral position to navigation system, newly developed navigation system indicates anatomical schema, which is rather similar to real EUS pictures. Its accuracy of positioning system is seem to be acceptable for clinical use. However, in case of pulling or pushing method, there is 3 or more cm dislocation to real scanning picture.

Conclusions:

Although we have to improve this navigation system, we concluded that newly developed navigation system for EUS will be helpful for EUS beginner in the near future.