Development of a Robust Head Tracking System Through Virtual and Physical Optimization

Reconstructed image quality can be degraded by patient head motion and requires precise motion measurement and compensation during reconstruction. Head motion can be estimated using optical motion tracking systems (MTS). Unfortunately, optimizing motion tracking system performance can be a challenging task, due to limited repeatability and susceptibility to a variety of confounding errors. Herein, we present preliminary results of a novel MTS in which the head tracking system is optimized through both physical and virtual (simulated) configuration and experimentation with the goal of making a more robust physical MTS. The virtual system will help identify optimal operating conditions such as phantom placement, robot generated motion paths, provides a reliable estimate of the recorded head motion, and alleviate sources of confounding errors. The physical system can then be used to measure quantify the measured motion in a controlled environment and investigate further improvements.