Model-Based Rapid 3D Passive Needle Localization for Automatic Slice Positioning in MR-Guided Interventions

Motivation: For MR-guided needle interventions, rapid 3D needle localization enables automatic realignment of 2D real-time imaging slices with the device during the procedure. Goal(s): To investigate a model-based approach for rapid 3D needle localization that does not require prepositioned tracking slices. Approach: 3D k-space data was radially acquired before and after needle placement. Two algorithms to extract position and orientation of the needle were introduced and compared (artifact model fit to undersampled subtraction k-space/image). Results: Model-based rapid 3D needle localization was successfully demonstrated in-vivo (k-space-based offline localization error 4.3mm for FOV of (256cm)3 in 1.1s combined acquisition and localization time using 64 k-space spokes). Impact: Model-based rapid 3D passive needle localization shows potential to improve the workflow of MR-guided needle interventions, allowing for automatic alignment of 2D real-time imaging slices with the needle trajectory.