FIBERSTAR:FIBER-optic sensors for Smart Thermal Ablation at Radiofrequency Projects uri icon

type

  • European Research Project

reference

  • H2020-GA-MSCA-IF 652871

date/time interval

  • September 1, 2016 - August 31, 2018

abstract

  • FIBERSTAR is a multidisciplinary project aimed at the development of point-of-care optical fiber sensors to support noninvasive
    radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFTA) of tumors.
    RFTA is an interventional medical procedure that brings tumor cells to mortality by generating a spatially selective hightemperature
    field, localized within the tumor, using a percutaneous ablation device. RFTA provides ablation up to 5 cm size
    in hard tissues (kidney, lung), while ablation size is limited to 3 cm in liver; on the other hand, the miniature ablation device
    ensures a non-invasive outpatient treatment.
    In clinical procedures, RFTA is an image-guided procedure, which limits its efficiency. The possibility to install miniature,
    biocompatible, and quasi-distributed fiber-optic sensors on RFTA device, returning real-time biophysical data, can disrupt
    RFTA procedure. The applicant has carried out significant groundwork in the application of optical fiber sensors to ex-vivo
    thermal ablation on porcine liver phantoms.
    Building on groundwork, FIBERSTAR aims at the development of innovative fiber-optic sensors that aim at solving the main
    limitations of RFTA. Research addresses the development of (1) a sensor embedding pressure and distributed temperature
    on a single fiber, to be installed on the RFTA device, (2) a sensor for positioning RFTA device in tumor, (3) miniature quasidistributed
    temperature sensors to detect the approaching of the ablation.
    FIBERSTAR aims at building four-fold impact:
    1) Implement and demonstrate smart-RFTA, whereas real-time sensors data are used to drive the RFTA treatment in closeloop
    complementing imaging data.
    2) Extend RFTA to safe treatment of prostatic and pancreatic tumors, using sensors to protect key organs from ablation.
    3) Provide disruptive improvement of treatment of encapsulated tumors, implementing pressure detection.
    4) Provide a quantified improvement of RFTA outcome in terms of reduction of failure rate and predictabilit

keywords

  • optical fiber sensors; interventional cancer care; thermal ablation; radiofrequency thermal ablation (rfta)