Sensorised head and neck cancer surgery via biophotonic multimodal imaging

Introduction

Intraoperative tumour resection is based on the surgeon"s experience, supported by optic or robotic-assisted examination of the tumour. However, this approach does not allow for a precise definition of the tumour borders and can lead to incomplete tumour resection and thus poor survival of the patient. Biophotonic imaging approaches could play a crucial role in addressing this unmet medical need, as they provide besides morphological information also molecular information.

Materials / Methods

We will report on the investigation of novel multimodal labelfree spectroscopic instrumentation (like e.g. clinically usable microscopes or endospectroscopic probes) in combination with innovative artificial intelligence (AI) approaches.

Results

Labelfree multimodal spectroscopic imaging visualizes the tissue morphology and molecular structure. The multimodal images can be automatically analyzed using AI-based image analysis approaches into diagnostic information. To take full advantage of these multimodal imaging approaches a major step forward would be the implementation of spectroscopic-guided femtosecond ablation in a "seek and treat manner". We will also introduce a multimodal nonlinear microendoscope, which also allows for the ablation of biological tissue with femtosecond lasers.

Discussion

The interplay between multimodal imaging in combination with innovative artificial intelligence approaches for real-time spectral analysis and fs-laser ablation opens exciting new ways for an intraoperative histopathological tumor analysis and selective removal. An outlook to also include haptic feedback towards sensorised surgery for precise surgical guidance and intraoperative histopathological examination of tissue under in-vivo or near in-vivo conditions will be given.

Die Autorinnen/Autoren geben an, dass kein Interessenkonflikt besteht