Validation of calibration by spatial registration between US and MRI scans: Application to carotid of bifurcation

In this paper, we present a new system for interactively calibration algorithm validate by registering three-dimensional US and three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to explore atheromatous lesions in carotid. This registration becomes to validate calibration process of US probe, which is based on alignment of US and MR image. This calibration is based on electromagnetic system called PCBird to provide a free-hand system. An extensive analysis of the errors of our system was performed by using a custom-built plastic cylinder phantom. Error calibration was found to have a mean value of 1.93 mm. The registration error between US and MR space was dependent on the distance of the target point from the US probe face.