Development and Evaluation of an MRI-Guided Robotic System for Sacroiliac Joint Injections

Motivation: To enable an in-vivo study in a cohort of 10 patients: Male or female, ages 12 to 21, to perform MR guided robotic sacroiliac joint injections. Goal(s): Confirm device performance of the proposed imaging study and confirm safety of the imaging coil for an Investigational Device Exemption (IDE) submission. Approach: Conduct phantom and cadaver studies to evaluate the devices targeting performance and utilize electromagnetic simulations to visualize electromagnetic fields and measure temperature increase at E-field maxima with fiber optic temperature sensors. Results: Accurate needle placement under MRI guidance and RF safety of the imaging coil were demonstrated. Impact: Minimally invasive injections through small needles are an essential tool in pain management for the diagnosis and treatment of chronic pain. High success requires good visualization of the targeted nerve and accurate needle placement which MRI-guided robotic intervention will provide.