Early-stage cancer diagnosis is critical for improving patient survival rates. While biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosis, image-guided techniques can significantly enhance its precision. MRI-guided biopsies enable the targeting of small liver lesions that are undetectable by ultrasound (US) or CT. However, their widespread clinical adoption is hindered by workflow inefficiencies, especially for dynamic abdominal targets where accurate needle placement remains a challenge.
To address this, we introduce a Manipulator Arm for MRI (MAMRI), a pneumatically driven, MR-safe robotic arm with six degrees of freedom designed for precise needle positioning and real-time tracking of dynamic lesions. MAMRI integrates active MRI tracking using RF micro-coils to assess and enhance its kinematic performance, improving procedural accuracy.
In this colloquium, we take an initial step toward implementing real-time MRI active tracking to optimize MR-guided abdominal biopsies. This approach has the potential to improve clinical workflow, enhance targeting accuracy, and ultimately contribute to better diagnostic outcomes for abdominal cancer.