Positional accuracy and transmitter orientation of the 3D electromagnetic tracking system

Abstract

This research investigates the positional accuracy and effects of transmitter orientation of a 3D electromagnetic tracking (EMT) system. EMT systems, capable of real-time position and orientation monitoring, are commonly used in computer-aided surgical navigation and path monitoring. In this study, positional information is evaluated for accuracy by comparing the EMT system against laser interferometer measurements in three orthogonal axes with step sizes between 0.1 and 0.5 mm. The effect of transmitter orientation is evaluated by placing the transmitter with either the front or the side facing the magnetic sensor. Gauge repeatability and reproducibility results demonstrate that the EMT system can accurately measure the motion with a tolerance of 0.2 mm with 0.5 s measurement time. The transmitter oriented with the front facing the sensor has a higher positional accuracy than that of the side transmitter orientation. High accuracy of the EMT system combined with the knowledge of transmitter orientation information presents the potential for accurate navigation and path monitoring in medical procedures.