Optical guidance systems for epidural space identification
Epidurals are the most diffused loco-regional techniques
for the relief of operative, postoperative, and chronic pain
and are used for about 50% of deliveries. Currently, doctors still
identify epidural space relying on subjective perception, by using
“blind” manual techniques to which are associated failure rate
up to 7%. In the last years, many systems aimed at assisting and
guiding the placement of epidural needle have been proposed. In
particular, optical systems basically rely on the integration inside