Automatic Cannulation of Femoral Vessels in a Porcine Shock Model

TL;DR

This paper presents a robotic ultrasound system that successfully automates femoral vessel cannulation in a pig model, aiming to improve emergency vascular access in prehospital trauma care.

Contribution

It introduces a fully automated robotic system for femoral vessel cannulation, advancing beyond semi-autonomous methods and addressing challenges in emergency settings.

Findings

Successful femoral vein and artery cannulation in a porcine shock model

Demonstrated feasibility of autonomous ultrasound-guided vascular access

Potential to improve prehospital emergency vascular procedures

Abstract

Rapid and reliable vascular access is critical in trauma and critical care. Central vascular catheterization enables high-volume resuscitation, hemodynamic monitoring, and advanced interventions like ECMO and REBOA. While peripheral access is common, central access is often necessary but requires specialized ultrasound-guided skills, posing challenges in prehospital settings. The complexity arises from deep target vessels and the precision needed for needle placement. Traditional techniques, like the Seldinger method, demand expertise to avoid complications. Despite its importance, ultrasound-guided central access is underutilized due to limited field expertise. While autonomous needle insertion has been explored for peripheral vessels, only semi-autonomous methods exist for femoral access. This work advances toward full automation, integrating robotic ultrasound for minimally invasive emergency procedures. Our key contribution is the successful femoral vein and artery cannulation in a porcine hemorrhagic shock model.