WORKSTATION FOR TOMOGRAPHIC MICROTHERAPY

Minimally invasive procedures are increasingly combined with radiologi c imaging to optimise access and treatment techniques. While endoscopy has become a standard technique in the surgical field for diagnosis a nd therapy, tomographic guidance is new. Combining both modalities, th e transparency of computed tomography and of ultrafast electron beam t omography, together with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), will optimi se both guidance and therapy. By using tomographic scanners for precis e instrument positioning, the diameter of instruments [mechanical, las er, radiofrequency (RF), endoscopes etc.] can be minimised. Also elect ronic equipment, for visualisation and therapy should be integrated in to a tomographic work-station. Instruments and electronic equipment ar e sensitive to MRI and ferromagnetic alloys, and electric impulses cau se artifacts in imaging. These problems have to be solved for future t herapeutic workstations.