Fibre probe for tumour laser thermotherapy with integrated temperature measuring capabilities

What is it about?

The paper describes the design, manufacturing and assessment using phantoms of prototypes of innovative applicators for laser tumour ablation. These new applicators are characterized by customized laser beam irradiation pattern combined with all-optical temperature sensing capabilities. Different irradiation patterns to match tumour sizes are obtained by changing the fibre surface micro-structure through a laser assisted process. Then, fibre Bragg grating temperature sensors are integrated into the beam delivery probe to allow the quasi-distributed temperature measurement. The real-time induced temperature measurement is fundamental for optimal treatment outcomes because very difficult to predict a priori due to the large variability of optical and thermal properties of tissue (changes of composition in different organs, effect of blood flow, changes of absorption properties during the ablation process itself).

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Why is it important?

The developed applicator integrates for the first time the ablation laser beam delivery with all-optical real time temperature sensing capabilities. This, combined with proper hyperthermal treatment planning tools, is expected to allow improving the effectiveness of laser tumour ablations and thus survival rates even in patients that are not suitable candidates for surgical resection. Another point is that the proposed applicator is an all-dielectric probe: this reduces artefacts in temperature readings and, most important, implies full compatibility with MRI, opening new treatment possibilities.

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