CONTACT:
Jeanan Yasiri Moe
Director of Strategic Communications and Public Affairs
[email protected] | (608) 960-9892
MADISON, Wis. – New medical devices and software tools created by researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison aim to make computed tomography (CT)-guided interventional procedures faster, safer and more effective.
Computed tomography (CT)-guided procedures are both minimally invasive and highly precise. However, these procedures — which include biopsies, abscess drainages and ablations — tend to be time-consuming.
A new software system eliminates the need for clinicians to manually plan the path of a needle (or other medical device) to the target area. This tool evaluates as many as 50,000 potential paths and identifies the best options, reducing both clinician workload and unnecessary needle manipulation.
Another innovation that cuts down on procedural delay and improves patient comfort is a medical device that allows anesthetic to be administered along the stylet while it remains in place. Previously, patients needed to be moved in and out of the scanner.
“The University of Wisconsin-Madison is a global leader in both developing and implementing new technologies,” says Jeanine Burmania, WARF senior director of IP and licensing. “Innovations like these streamline CT-guided procedures to benefit both clinicians and patients.”
In addition to reducing procedural delays, technologies developed by UW researchers have also made CT-guided interventional procedures safer for both patients and clinicians.
The metal needle used in CT-guided procedures can create imaging artifacts, which reduce the clinician’s ability to clearly visualize the needle path and target. A new method developed by UW researchers improves visualization of the needle tip. Using this method, clinicians are able to avoid critical structures such as blood vessels, nerves and the spinal cord and treat with greater precision.
CT fluoroscopy (CTF) is a powerful tool which allows more responsive image guidance during procedures. However, CTF is not yet widely implemented, since it exposes the clinician to an increased dose of radiation. UW researchers developed a method that lowered the dose delivered to clinicians by 35%. This new tool — the first of its kind on the market — makes implementing CTF a viable option.
Technologies like those emerging at UW play a crucial role in improving existing procedures and reducing the risk to both the patient and clinician. As CT-guided interventional procedures become more and more common, implementing new tools and methods to enhance their efficiency, safety, and accuracy will be critical.
To learn more about these technologies and others from UW-Madison’s medical physics and radiology departments, contact Jeanine Burmania at [email protected].