Novel surgical micro-tumor tracking system for lung tumors

INTRODUCTION: With the development in the technology of the spiral CT, it h as become possible to discover micro-tumors even at relatively deep and inv isible positions inside a chest membrane, MATERIAL and METHODS: A surgical micro-tumor tracking system includes a signal transmitter inserted near or at a tumor inside a patient's body, forceps each having a receiver attached at its tip for receiving signals transmitted from the transmitter, a posit ion calculating device for determining the position of the transmitter from signals received by these receivers, and a display device for displaying t he position of the transmitter deter-mined by the position calculating devi ce. The emitted signal is in the form of magnetic fields. RESULTS: This is the first report. concerning about the main control program of a surgical m icro-tumor tracking system, CONCLUSIONS: This system will enable us to do s afer and sure operations in endoscopic surgery.