A Real-Time Imaging System for Medical Mechatronics Research

该提案要求资金购买光学相干断层扫描（OCT）成像系统，这是我们在CSTAR（加拿大外科技术和先进机器人）进行的微创手术和治疗（MIST）研究项目所需的。微创手术对患者非常有利，因为它们减少了对身体的附带损伤，因为它们是通过小切口或通过身体中的自然孔口进行的。然而，由于访问条件的减少，它们为临床医生引入了显著的限制。CSTAR的许多正在进行的项目都集中在MIST的新设备和技术的开发上。在这些手术过程中出现的有限视觉信息的可能解决方案是将更先进的成像系统纳入MIST器械。光学相干断层扫描（OCT）是近年来发展起来的一种成像技术，作为一种无创或微创、安全、廉价的成像方式，在医学上有着重要的应用。该技术支持实时成像，分辨率为亚毫米，深度达3毫米。将该技术应用于MIST设备，可应用于心脏手术、肺癌治疗和胃肠道手术。它可以导致更广泛的先进微创干预，提高患者安全性并减少并发症。另一个应用是开发用于膝关节镜检查的更逼真的物理模拟器，因为这是第一种可用的技术，可以以非常微创的方式用于测量体内组织特性，并可以告知具有与真实的组织相同的“感觉”的组织模型的开发。该设备对于我们正在进行的研究项目的成功完成至关重要，并有望显着推进MIST技术发展的最新水平。

This proposal is requesting funds to purchase an optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging system that is required for several of our ongoing research projects at CSTAR (Canadian Surgical Technologies and Advanced Robotics) on minimally invasive surgery and therapy (MIST). Minimally invasive procedures are highly advantageous for patients as they reduce collateral damage to the body because they are performed through small incisions or through the natural orifices in the body. However, they introduce significant limitations for clinicians as a result of the reduced access conditions. Many of the ongoing projects at CSTAR are focused on the development of new devices and techniques for MIST. A possible solution to the limited visual information that arises during these procedures is to incorporate more advanced imaging systems into MIST devices. OCT is a fairly recent development in imaging, which has important applications in medicine as a noninvasive or minimally invasive, safe and inexpensive imaging modality. This technology supports real-time imaging with sub-millimetre resolution to a depth of up to 3 mm. Incorporating this technology into MIST devices has applications in cardiac surgery, lung cancer treatment, and surgery in the gastrointestinal tract. It can result in a broader range of advanced minimally invasive interventions, improving patient safety and reducing complications. An additional application is in the development of more realistic physical simulators for knee arthroscopy, as this is the first available technology that can be used in a very minimally invasive manner to measure tissue characteristics in vivo and can inform the development of tissue models that have the same "feel" as real tissue. This equipment is essential for the successful completion of our ongoing research projects and promises to significantly advance the state of the art in the development of technology for MIST.