Tracking Error Evaluation and Propagation With Hybrid Tracking System
Type: Bachelor Thesis (Informatics), but may be
subject to negotiation, e.g. IDP
Advisor:
Nassir Navab
Supervision by:
Tobias Reichl
Abstract
Both IR-optical tracking (OT) and electromagnetic tracking (EMT) are clinically established technologies for real-time tracking of imaging devices, instruments, and other objects. Hybrid magneto-optic tracking systems overcome the individual disadvantages of both technologies, at the price of additional calibration steps, which may introduce further errors. For optical tracking systems there exist methods to estimate the current tracking error, but for electromagnetic tracking systems is is hard to detected error or even correct them, in particular with dynamic sources of error. Several electromagnetic tracking systems are to be comparatively evaluated. Approaches for combination into hybrid magneto-optical tracking systems need to be selected, and the accumulation and propagation of errors from data acquisition over different calibration methods needs to be considered. Possible approaches for improvement of tracking and calibration accuracy should be pointed out. If you are interested or if you have questions, please contact
Tobias Reichl.
Clinical Setting
Both IR-optical tracking (OT) and electromagnetic tracking (EMT) are clinically established technologies for real-time tracking of imaging devices, instruments, and other objects. Hybrid magneto-optic tracking systems overcome the individual disadvantages of both technologies, at the price of additional calibration steps, which may introduce further errors.
For optical tracking systems there exist methods to estimate the current tracking error, but for electromagnetic tracking systems is is hard to detected error or even correct them, in particular with dynamic sources of error.
Tasks
A known evaluation protocol [Hummel 2005] for electromagnetic tracking accuracy is to be applied to several electromagnetic tracking systems in a comparative evaluation. Then, approaches for combination into hybrid magneto-optical tracking systems need to be selected, and the accumulation and propagation of errors from data acquisition over different calibration methods needs to be considered. Possible approaches for improvement of tracking and calibration accuracy should be pointed out.
Methods
The work will be performed at university hospital Klinikum rechts der Isar. Optical and electromagnetic tracking systems and materials for evaluation phantoms will be provided.
Requirements
- Programming experience in C++ and Matlab is required.
- Knowledge in computer-assisted interventions, e.g. from lecture "Computer Aided Medical Procedures" is of advantage.
Literature
- Hummel, J. B.; Bax, M. R.; Figl, M. L.; Kang, Y.; Maurer, Jr., C.; Birkfellner, W. W.; Bergmann, H. & Shahidi, R. Design and application of an assessment protocol for electromagnetic tracking systems Medical Physics, 2005, 32, 2371-2379
- more to come