Comparison of wired and wireless electromagnetic hand motion tracking in central venous access: Are they equivalent enough to cut the cord?

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2-1-2025

Publication Title

Medical engineering & physics

Abstract

PURPOSE: This study aims to compare a commercially available wired and wireless tracker in motion analysis of interventional radiologists performing simulated ultrasound-guided central venous access.

METHODS AND MATERIAL: Interventional radiologists were asked to volunteer for the study. Participants were asked to place central venous lines on a commercially available, standardized manikin as their needle hand and ultrasound probe motion were recorded using electromagnetic trackers. Each participant performed a total of 10 trials, with 5 trials recorded using a wired tracker and 5 using a wireless tracker. Institution-developed software was used to calculate established motion metrics (path length and number of movements). The motion metrics from the two trackers were compared.

RESULTS: Seven interventional radiologists participated in the study. Path length (wireless vs. wired: 773.1 cm ± 85.7 cm vs. 959.5 cm ± 303.6 cm, p < 0.001) and number of movements (193 ± 52 vs. 231 ± 50.5, p = 0.001) differed significantly between the two trackers; however, the time to complete the procedure (51.8 s ± 14.8 s vs. 49.8 s ± 10.5 s, p = 0.68) was similar across trackers.

CONCLUSION: The motion metrics of the same operators differ significantly between wired and wireless trackers. Accounting for the sampling frame rate and the frame efficiency of the wireless sensors can provide comparable motion data.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Hand; Electromagnetic Phenomena; Wireless Technology; Movement; Catheterization, Central Venous

PubMed ID

39979003

Volume

136

First Page

104280

Last Page

104280

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