Combining Optics and Acoustics for Realtime Guidance during Cancer Surgery

The strong collaboration within this project between the end users (surgeons of the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek-Netherlands Cancer Institute), academia (University of Twente) and industry (Philips Research) guarantees optimal design as well as smooth and rapid implementation of the developed technology within the clinic.

Surgery forms the mainstay in the treatment for solid tumors. However, in up to 30% of the cases surgery is inadequate either because tumor tissue is left behind erroneously or surgical resection is too extensive compromising vital structures such as nerves. So in cancer surgery, surgeons generally operate at a delicate balance between achieving radical tumor resection and preventing morbidity from too extensive surgical resection. Within this context there is long lasting but still unmet need for a precise surgical tool that informs the surgeon on the tissue type at the tip of his instrument and in this way can guide the surgical procedure.

In this project, it is proposed to develop technology for real time guidance during cancer surgery. A handheld probe will be developed that will inform the surgeon in real time on the type of tissue at the tip of the instrument. This will be achieved by strategically combining ultrasound imaging with the accurate tissue sensing capabilities of optical spectroscopy within one handheld device. The technique will be validated within rectal cancer surgery.