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

在NSERC过去7年的支持下，申请人在瑞尔森大学和安大略省癌症研究所的实验室的研究重点是开发用于监测加热组织的新型光学，声学和热方法（新兴技术），具体应用于实体肿瘤的热破坏。拟议的工作将补充先前对监测间质激光热疗法的光学测量效用的研究，间质激光热疗法是一种针对实体肿瘤的实验性微创治疗，其中能量通过植入的薄而柔韧的光纤传递。提出的研究目标是：i)开发一种生物兼容的多任务光纤技术，可以a)测量局部光强度，b)测量局部温度，c)传递光能。ii)开发一种纤维旋转组件，可以提供多达4个多任务纤维植入生物材料的独立旋转。iii)开发一种用于加热生物材料的自动控制器，该控制器使用来自多达4个多任务纤维的反馈信息（亮度，温度）。因此，在本研究的过程中，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新的具有成本效益的医疗技术，为增加经济活动做出重大贡献，为高素质人才的培训提供一个全面的平台，有助于提高加拿大医疗科学和技术的全球形象，并为通过微创激光治疗的定量发展提高生活质量的患者带来可持续的利益。

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.