Development of a Smart Spinal Epidural Needle Based on Load Cell Sensors

In this article, we have developed a high-accuracy and low-cost smart epidural needle system. It is based on force puncture sensing and guidance mechanism that enhances success rate and reduces the risks of accidental punctures. The design incorporates a subminiature load cell embedded in the spinal needle which measures the force exerted by each tissue layer on the needle tip. By identifying the force range for each layer, the needle can be safely inserted and accurately reach the targeted area. Accordingly, a classifier model for this identification process was developed and tested. More than a hundred experimental readings were collected and used for training the developed classifier model of the system. Furthermore, a phantom with six spinal cord layers, that mimics the properties of different spinal tissue layers, was built and utilized for testing purposes. The experimental results of the developed smart spinal epidural needle system highlight the ability of the system to identify the needle location with an accuracy of about 86.7%. Hence, it provides promising outcomes and a feasible solution for the future development of spinal epidural needle systems.