NIH Clinical Research Studies

Protocol Number: 05-CC-0091

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

Title:
Electromagnetic Tracking of Devices During Interventional Procedures: A Pilot Study
Number:
05-CC-0091
Summary:
This study will evaluate the accuracy and effectiveness of an experimental tracking device for locating abnormalities during invasive procedures, such as biopsy or ablation, that cannot easily be visualized by usual imaging techniques, such as computed tomography (CT) scans or ultrasound. Some lesions, such as certain liver or kidney tumors, small endocrine abnormalities, and others, may be hard to find or only visible for a few seconds. The new method uses a needle with a miniature tracking device buried inside the metal that tells where the tip of the needle is located, somewhat like a mini GPS, or global positioning system. It uses a very weak magnet to localize the device like a miniature satellite system. This study will explore whether this system can be used in the future to more accurately place the needle in or near the desired location or abnormality.

Patients 18 years of age and older who have a lesion that needs to be biopsied or an ablation procedure that requires CT guidance may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history and review of medical records, including imaging studies.

Participants undergo the biopsy or ablation procedure as they normally would, with the following exceptions: some stickers are placed on the skin before the procedure and a very weak magnet is placed nearby. The needles used are similar to the ones that would normally be used except that they contain a metal coil or spring buried deep within the needle metal. The procedure involves the following steps:

1. Small 1-cm plastic donuts are place on the skin with tape.

2. A planning CT scan is done.

3. The CT scan is sent to the computer and matched to the patient's body location with the help of a very weak magnet.

4. The needle used for the procedure is placed towards the target tissue or abnormality and the "smart needle" location lights up on the old CT scan.

5. A repeat CT is done as it normally is to look for the location of the needle.

6. After the procedure the CT scans are examined to determine how well the new tool located the needle in the old scan.

Sponsoring Institute:
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC)
Recruitment Detail
Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled
Gender: Male & Female
Referral Letter Required: Yes
Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients must fulfill all of the following criteria to be eligible for study admission:

1. All patients must have a pre-operative CT, MR, or PET scan performed at NIH and be undergoing surgery or an interventional procedure.

2. Age greater than 18 years.

3. No serious concurrent medical illness that would preclude the patient from making a rational informed decision on participation.

4. The ability to understand and willingness to sign a written informed consent form, and to comply with the protocol. If in question, an ethics consult will be obtained.

5. Ability to hold breath (if procedure to be performed with conscious sedation, and without general anesthesia).

6. Patients must be actively enrolled on an NIH protocol and be scheduled for surgery, angiography, or CT- or ultrasound-guided biopsy.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients with any of the following will be excluded from study entry:

1. Patients with an altered mental status that precludes understanding or consenting for the biopsy procedure will be excluded from this study.

2. Patients unlikely able to hold reasonably still on a procedure table for the length of the procedure.

3. Patients with any known allergy to adhesives or latex or skin reactions to dressings (since the adhesive fiducials could theoretically induce a rash in these patients).

4. Inability to hold breath, if procedure will be performed with conscious sedation, and without general anesthesia.

5. Patients with pacemakers or automatic implantable cardiac defibrillators.

6. Gross body weight above the CT table limit (375 pounds).

7. Pregnancy.

8. Patients with uncorrectable coagulopathies.

Special Instructions:
Currently Not Provided
Keywords:
Magnetic Tracking
Surgical Navigation
Image-guided Therapy
Recruitment Keyword(s):
Surgical Navigation
Condition(s):
Tomography, Emission-Computed
Investigational Drug(s):
None
Investigational Device(s):
None
Intervention(s):
None
Supporting Site:
Warren G. Magnuson Clinical Center

Contact(s):
Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citation(s):
Seiler PG, Blattmann H, Kirsch S, Muench RK, Schilling C. A novel tracking technique for the continuous precise measurement of tumour positions in conformal radiotherapy. Phys Med Biol. 2000 Sep;45(9):N103-10.

Frantz DD, Wiles AD, Leis SE, Kirsch SR. Accuracy assessment protocols for electromagnetic tracking systems. Phys Med Biol. 2003 Jul 21;48(14):2241-51.

Solomon SB, White P Jr, Wiener CM, Orens JB, Wang KP. Free Full Text Three-dimensional CT-guided bronchoscopy with a real-time electromagnetic position sensor: a comparison of two image registration methods. Chest. 2000 Dec;118(6):1783-7.

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

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