Visualization tool for improved accuracy in needle placement during percutaneous radio-frequency ablation of liver tumors

The European research network "Augmented reality in Surgery" (ARIS*ER) developed a system that supports percutaneous radio frequency ablation of liver tumors. The system provides interventionists, during placement and insertion of the RFA needle, with information from pre-operative CT images and real-time tracking data. A visualization tool has been designed that aims to support (1) exploration of the abdomen, (2) planning of needle trajectory and (3) insertion of the needle in the most efficient way. This work describes a first evaluation of the system, where user performances and feedback of two visualization concepts of the tool - needle view and user view - are compared. After being introduced to the system, ten subjects performed three needle placements with both concepts. Task fulfillment rate, time for completion of task, special incidences, accuracy of needle placement recorded and analyzed. The results show ambiguous results with beneficial and less favorable effects on user performance and workload of both concepts. Effects depend on characteristics of intra-operative tasks as well as on task complexities depending on tumor location. The results give valuable input for the next design steps.