Sensing Technologies for Guidance During Needle-Based Interventions

Needle intervention is widely employed in clinical practices, such as biopsies, regional anesthesia, blood sampling, neurosurgery, and brachytherapy. Traditional needle insertion relies on surgeon expertise and kinesthetic feedback, yet accurately targeting deep tissue structures remains challenging. To address this, significant research has advanced sensing technologies to aid insertion accuracy. This article comprehensively reviews recent developments in needle insertion sensing techniques, encompassing needle tip position tracking, proximity measurement, and puncture detection. It evaluates these methods across metrics, including accuracy, cost-effectiveness, portability, compatibility, noise resistance capability, technology readiness level (TRL), and future trends. Emerging research directions highlight advancements in machine learning integration, miniaturization, and enhanced multimodal sensing capabilities to improve procedural outcomes and expand application domains.