Epidural Needle Guidance Using Viscoelastic Tissue Response.

ABSTRACT: Objective: We designed, prototyped, and tested a system that measures the viscoelastic response of tissue using nondestructive mechanical probing, with the goal of aiding clinical providers during epidural needle placement. This system is meant to alert clinicians when an epidural needle is about to strike bone during insertion. Methods: During needle insertion, the system periodically mechanically stimulates and collects viscoelastic response information data from the tissue at the needle's tip using an intra-needle probe. A machine-learning algorithm detects when the needle is close to bone using the series of observed stimulations. Results: Tests run on ex vivo pig spine show that the system can reliably determine if the needle is pointed at and within 3 mm o

SUBMITTER: Simpson BS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8932520 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature