Miniature catheter for 3D imaging of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer care will benefit from real-time, non-invasive imaging of tissue structure to guide diagnosis and therapy. The consortium will combine Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT), capable of such measurements, with novel miniaturized imaging catheters based on MEMS-based scanning mirrors for 3D imaging of bladder tissue at micrometer scale resolutions. 

By 2020, 7000  new patients will be diagnosed with bladder cancer per year. Unfortunately bladder cancer remains among the most expensive cancers in terms of patient quality-of-life and sustainability of health care costs because often lesions are missed during diagnosis based on invasive tissue biopsies. Moreover, in 45% of patients a new cancer occurs after the first treatment. Accurate, minimally invasive, 3D imaging of the bladder will allow improved fast characterization of suspected lesions and guiding of novel tissue sparing therapies.   

Optical Coherence Tomography (the optical equivalent of ultrasound imaging) allows for micrometer resolution, 3D imaging of the bladder wall. These images can provide doctors with information regarding tissue state, without removing the tissue. In order to take these images, novel, miniaturized imaging catheters need to be developed. 

In a previous collaboration, the consortium partners demonstrated the feasibility of the proposed approach. A ‘second generation’ imaging catheter will be developed within the current project up to the maturity level where pre-clinical evaluation is possible.

The project has led to a larger field of view and higher imaging resolution, smaller diameter to ensure compatibility with flexible endoscopes, and increased robustness of the MEMS-scanning mirror at the heart of the catheter. The optics, mechanics and electronics have been redesigned to achieve this goal. There is now a more robust, simple calibration method which optimizes post-measurement image enhancement, increasing the clinical potential. All together this had led to a prototype system is available for use in animal models. Finally, the project has led to several scientific publications and presentations and an awarded EUROSTAR project in which patient measurements are foreseen.

Schematic representation of the probe that has been developed within this project. The top left image indicates the minituarized size, compared to a 2 Eurocent coin