I-Corps: Optics for Photodynamic Therapy

这个创新团队项目提出了一项技术，将开发一种功能性手持原型，用于动物研究和皮肤癌前期的光动力疗法(PDT)的临床试验。工作台原型将解决大面积(2厘米x 2厘米)的原型，以响应临床需求。PI和她的团队预计，原型设备提供的照明提供方面的突破将使皮肤科办公室能够有针对性地治疗患有PDT的皮肤癌前疾病。将提供的治疗将是对目前FDA批准的AK治疗的补充，该治疗包括照射整个解剖区域。此外，PDT的剂量学计算将从所提供的已知照明中受益。PDT是一种微创程序，将是降低医疗成本的关键；通过促进更有效的治疗，提高患者对早期筛查和早期治疗的依从性(这是降低医疗成本的关键)。如果成功，这项拟议的技术将通过使其更有效来改进目前的皮肤PDT治疗，最终减少所需的患者就诊次数。对于口腔癌，拟议的光学设备将使治疗更便宜、更快、创伤最小、患者更舒适，因为它将光线对准病变，而不需要任何屏蔽程序。

This Innovation Corps project proposes technology that will develop a functional handheld prototype to be used in animal studies and in clinical trials for photodynamic therapy (PDT) of pre-cancers of the skin. The bench prototype will address a large area (2 cm x 2 cm) prototype that responds to clinical needs. The PI and her team anticipate that the breakthrough in the illumination delivery offered by the prototype device will enable a targeted treatment of pre-cancerous conditions of the skin with PDT in a dermatology office. The treatment to be offered will be complementary to the current FDA approved treatment for AK that consists of illuminating the whole anatomic area. In addition, the dosimetry calculations of PDT will critically benefit from the known illumination provided. PDT, a minimally invasive procedure, will be a key to lowering the cost of healthcare; by promoting a more effective treatment, increasing patient compliance (which is key to lowering healthcare cost) for early screening and early treatment. If successful, the proposed technology will improve the current skin PDT treatment by making it more effective, ultimately reducing the number of patient visits needed. For oral cancer, the proposed optical devices will make the treatment cheaper, faster, minimally invasive and more comfortable for the patient, by targeting light to the lesion and not requiring any shielding procedure.