Multi-Modality Imaging for Minimally Invasive Surgery

微创手术正在取代传统手术，但需要传感器技术的重大改进才能充分发挥其潜力。在这里，只有小切口是必要的，从而减少恢复时间，成本和患者的不适，但是，临床医生必须依靠成像来可视化解剖结构和手术设备。目前可用的指导福尔斯不足，提供的可视化不足。外部成像，例如X射线，在对比度和分辨率方面不足，而内部成像缺乏分辨率和分子特异性，并且通常过于庞大。迫切需要一种替代方法来改善程序期间的指导并使新的应用成为可能。全光学超声是一种利用光来产生和接收超声的新型成像技术，非常适合于此。该技术有潜力从完全适合微创应用的嵌入式设备提供高分辨率成像。此外，光学器件的使用使得互补成像和治疗模态的优雅集成成为可能，从而实现多模态设备。实现这项技术的潜力将彻底改变医疗保健，为临床医生提供跨众多医疗领域的强大工具。 全光学超声已经在UCL建立，主要演示使用光纤获取二维和三维图像，以及体内实时成像，以及共配准超声和光声成像。这项工作建立在这一既定技术的基础上，旨在在设备设计方面取得革命性进展，以解决心脏病学当前的问题。极端的设备简化以及互补成像和治疗模式的集成将允许在心脏手术期间的新用途，并开辟新的临床途径。作为这项工作的一部分，将在神经血管成像和支气管内成像等领域寻求进一步的临床合作，以利用工程技术的进步。 目的和目标开发用于从单个光纤产生和接收超声的方法和部件，其能够在以前无法到达的位置进行成像。开发新的图像和数据处理协议和算法，其可以提高图像分辨率和其他参数的特异性。开发互补的成像和治疗模式，例如光声成像和激光消融，并将其与全光学超声集成开发集成医疗设备用于关键的概念验证和研究方法的平移成像实验新奇该项目将结合联合收割机的光学和声学组件，成像系统设计，超声实验，开发实验装置，包括激光器、超声设备和其他组件，设计和执行成像实验（在工作台上和临床前环境中），并执行数据处理、数据可视化和系统控制的计算机编程。通过利用先进的制造方法和新的计算方法，将制造一类新的医疗器械。该项目与EPSRCs医疗保健技术大挑战“物理干预前沿”和“优化治疗”保持一致。该项目将与来自领先伦敦医院的临床医生合作开展。其中包括皇家自由医院的罗比·拉克希特博士、巴茨心脏中心的马尔科姆·芬利博士和伦敦大学学院医院的萨米·萨曼德博士。

Brief description of the context of the research including potential impact Minimally invasive procedures are replacing traditional surgery, but significant improvements in sensor technology are required to realise their full potential. Here, only small incisions are necessary leading to reduced recovery times, costs, and patient discomfort, however, clinicians must rely on imaging to visualise the anatomy and surgical devices. Currently available guidance falls short, providing insufficient visualisation. External imaging, such as X-ray, is deficient in contrast and resolution, whilst internal imaging lacks resolution and molecular specificity, and is often too bulky. An alternative is urgently needed to improve guidance during procedures and enable new applications. All-optical ultrasound, a novel imaging technique which uses light to generate and receive ultrasound, is ideally suited for this. The technology has the potential to provide high resolution imaging from miniaturised devices perfectly suited to minimally invasive applications. Further, the use of optics enables the elegant integration of complementary imaging and therapeutic modalities, enabling multi-modality devices. Realising the potential of this technology would revolutionise healthcare, providing clinicians with a powerful tool across numerous medical fields. All-optical ultrasound has been established at UCL, with key demonstrations using optical fibres to acquire two- and three-dimensional images, as well as, real-time imaging in vivo, and co-registered ultrasound and photoacoustic imaging. This work builds on this established technology and aims to make revolutionary advances in device design to tackle current problems in cardiology. Extreme device miniaturisation and the integration of complementary imaging and therapeutic modalities will allow novel uses during cardiac procedures and open new clinical avenues. As a part of this work, further clinical collaborations will be sought in areas such as neurovascular imaging and endobronchial imaging to leverage the engineering advances. Aims and Objectives Developing methods and components to generate and receive ultrasound from a single optical fibre which could enable imaging in previously unreachable locations Developing novel image and data processing protocols and algorithms which could improve image resolution and specificity amongst other parameters Developing complementary imaging and therapeutic modalities, such as photoacoustic imaging and laser ablation, and integrating them with all-optical ultrasound Developing integrated medical devices for key proof-of-concept and translational imaging experiments Novelty of Research Methodology The project will combine elements of nano- and micro-fabrication for optical and acoustic components, imaging system design, ultrasound experimentation, developing experimental setups including lasers, ultrasound equipment and other components, designing and performing imaging experiments (both on the bench top and in preclinical environments), and performing computer programming for data handling, data visualisation, and systems control. By utilising cutting edge fabrication methods and novel computational methods, a new class of medical devices will be fabricated. This project is aligned with the EPSRCs Healthcare Technologies Grand Challenge 'Frontiers of Physics Intervention' and 'Optimising Treatment'.The project will be carried out in collaboration with clinicians from leading London hospitals. These include Dr. Roby Rakhit at the Royal Free Hospital, Dr Malcolm Finlay at Barts Heart Centre, and Dr Sami Sarmed at University College London Hospital.