Real-time feedback control of laser ablation therapies using volumetric optoacoustic imaging

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Treatments applying laser ablation as a therapeutic or resection method have many advantages over scalpel-based and other mechanistic surgical methods. These include lack of contact of surgical instruments with clean treated areas, the potential for unrivaled precision and selectivity, minimal thermal and mechanical side effects, and the possibility of simultaneous cutting and/or coagulation of tissue. These advantages have consequently motivated the clinical application of laser ablation in a myriad of medical specialties, including oncology, ophthalmology, dermatology, dentistry, plastic surgery, otolaryngology - head and neck surgery. Despite these advances, most procedures are not done with an appropriate feedback control, resulting in difficulties discerning the critical parameters of the created lesion during the ablation process. The principle aim of the current project is to address the need for reliable feedback sensor in laser ablation procedures by applying the principles of multi-spectral optoacoustics to develop clinically-practical capabilities to monitor the lesion profile, extent of thermal damage, maps of temperature rise, local tissue distribution and other key parameters in real time. The successful implementation of these methods will enable tools to provide a surgeon with sufficient knowledge to minimize or avoid undesired damage to functional tissues and critical structures. Because of similar physical mechanisms governing ablation processes in biological tissue, many of the findings are expected to impact not only the laser ablation procedures but also other types of thermal treatments, such as radiofrequency catheter ablation or high intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) treatments. Throughout our project, we will take into account considerations for ensuring that the developed methods are appropriate for eventual use in a clinical setting. Chief among these considerations include that the methods require only equipment that is small, compact, low cost, and can support easy integration into handheld clinical-grade devices.