Development of a multitasking fiber-based delivery and guidance system for laser heating of biomaterials

在过去7年NSERC的支持下，Ryerson大学和安大略省癌症研究所的申请人实验室的研究重点是开发用于监测加热组织的新型光学、声学和热学方法(新兴技术)，特别是在固体肿瘤的热破坏方面的应用。这项拟议的工作将补充先前对光学测量用于监测间质激光热疗的效用的研究，间质激光热疗是一种针对实体肿瘤的实验性微创治疗方法，其中能量通过植入的细而灵活的光纤传递。拟议研究的目标是：i)开发一种生物兼容的多任务光纤技术，该技术可以a)测量局部光强度，b)测量局部温度，c)提供光能。Ii)开发一种纤维旋转组件，其可以提供植入生物材料中的最多4个多任务纤维的独立旋转。Iii)开发一种自动加热生物材料的控制器，它使用多达4个多任务光纤的反馈信息(辐射、温度)。因此，在这项拟议的研究过程中，将开发和评估用于加热生物材料的新光学技术。此外，该技术还可能在材料科学和光通信领域得到更广泛的应用。预计这项研究将通过开发具有成本效益的新医疗技术显著促进经济活动，为培训高素质人才提供一个全面的平台，帮助提高加拿大医疗科学和技术的全球知名度，并为患者产生可持续的好处，这些患者的生活质量可能会通过定量开发微创激光疗法而得到改善。

With NSERC support over the past 7 years, research in the applicant's laboratories at Ryerson University and the Ontario Cancer Institute has focused on the development of novel optical, acoustic and thermal methods (emerging technologies) for monitoring heated tissues, with a specific application on the thermal destruction of solid tumors. The proposed work will complement previous investigations of the utility of optical measurements for monitoring interstitial laser thermal therapy, an experimental minimally invasive treatment for solid tumours in which energy is delivered via implanted thin, flexible optical fibers. The objectives of the proposed research are: i) To develop a biocompatible multitasking optical fiber technology that can a) measure local light intensity, b) measure local temperature and c) deliver optical energy. ii) To develop a fiber rotation assembly that can provide for independent rotation of up to 4 multitasking fibers implanted in a biomaterial. iii) To develop an automated controller for heating biomaterials that uses feedback information (radiance, temperature) from up to 4 multitasking fibers.   Hence, during the course of this proposed research new optical technologies for heating biomaterials will be developed and evaluated. Furthermore, the technology may find wider application in the material science and optical communication sectors. It is expected that this research will contribute significantly to increased economic activity through the development of new cost-effective medical technologies, provide a comprehensive platform for training of highly qualified personnel, help raise the global profile of the Canadian medical science and technology, and yield a sustainable benefit to patients whose quality of life may be improved by quantitative development of minimally invasive laser therapies.