Microscopic Observations of Needle and Soft-tissue Simulant Interactions

INTRODUCTION One of the most common procedures employed in modern clinical practice is percutaneous needle insertion [1]. This procedure encompasses surgical operations such as prostate biopsy and brachytherapy where the accuracy of the needle placement is important. In order to correctly estimate needle tip location, physicians currently rely on their knowledge of anatomical landmarks, and on two-dimensional (2D) ultrasound or magnetic resonance images. Nevertheless, human error, organ deformation, and physiological processes (e.g. respiration, fluid flow, etc.) may result in a wrong placement of the needle. This may lead either to complications in the biopsy procedure, or to ineffective treatment in cancer therapy [1].