Dynamic Tracking During Interactive MRI: Implementation of an Open-Source Middleware

Felix Guettler¹, Andreas Heinrich¹, Peter Krauss¹, Jonathan Guntermann¹, Ulf Teichgraeber¹

In real-time MRI-guided interventions the FOV of interactive sequences needs to be permanently adapted according to the instruments movement. Dynamic tracking allows the automatic adaption of the FOV to the instruments location. To accomplish manufacturer independent use of dynamic tracking, a middleware was developed allowing the use of various MRIs and tracking systems. In a phantom experiment the efficiency regarding to time and success rate could be improved by using a dynamic control with a tracking system. The efficiency of interventions can be considerably improved through the middleware regarding time and hit ratio. Errors due to misunderstandings between radiologist and radiology assistant are strongly reduced.