E-Science Station

Percutaneous interventions for structural heart diseases are well-established and widely available, but new procedures require a learning curve to become proficient. Mixed reality, which enables the viewing of digital holograms within physical environments may provide enhanced training methods by displaying the 3D orientation of both the anatomy and interventional tools. Furthermore, practicing procedures on 3D printed phantoms provides a safe, controlled and reproducible environment without harming patients. Improved training methods has the potential to increase procedure accuracy, lower radiation exposure, and shorten procedure times.

We developed a mixed reality simulator for structural heart disease interventions. Cardiac computed tomography (CT) images were utilized for rendering a patient-specific heart in 3D. A corresponding physical phantom heart model was fabricated using 3D-printing technology. The phantom was connected to a peristaltic pump to mimic cardiac blood flow and to flush away any injected contrast dye. The position of the catheter in relation to the phantom model was tracked using electromagnetic sensors.

A custom-made software enabled the 3D orientation of the catheter to be displayed, in real-time, within the mixed reality glasses. User-friendly hand gestures and voice commands were implemented for manipulating the hologram view angles and cross-sections. Training and educating scenes for transseptal catheterization and left atrial appendage occluder implementation were generated. Furthermore, quantitative feedback for the accuracy of the catheter reaching specific target locations along the procedure were recorded and used to provide training metrics for the user.

We developed a real-time 3D guidance system for structural heart disease interventions that can be used in cardiac catheterization labs. The system will be used for training and educating transseptal catheterization and other structural heart interventions for interventional cardiologists.