Improving medical techniques while also driving down costs and reducing risks are all key metrics in the testing and adoption of new medical technologies. This is exactly what is attractive about medical instruments equipped with optical 3D shape sensors. For minimally invasive surgical procedures, 3D shape sensors enable higher- resolution instrument tracking while minimizing the complexity associated with traditional ultrasonic and fluoroscopic methods. This equates to reduced risk of complication during procedures, quicker recovery, and thus better long-term health for patients.