Scanning Fiber Endoscope Projects
Ultrathin and flexible scanning fiber endoscope (SFE) for the early detection and treatment of cancers within the body. The goal is to advance minimally invasive medical imaging by using ultrathin flexible endoscopes that allow access to regions of the body that were previously inaccessible. Once at a region of interest, imaging, diagnosis, therapy, and monitoring can be performed from the SFE with the goal of earlier and less-invasive treatment of cancers before they have spread from their place of origin. To improve our chances of survival from cancer, the diseased tissue must be detected and treated early, often before the person has any symptoms.
The main attributes of the SFE technology are:
- High-resolution imaging within an ultrathin size (less than 2 mm in diameter)
- Integrated optical diagnoses and laser therapies with full-color imaging
- Low-cost components that may lead to a disposable distal (in vivo) end
- Highly flexible & durable shaft that imparts less pressure on tissues
- Efficient laser scanning imaging that allows 3D imaging for future surgeries
- Computer-tracked guidance system for complex branching systems like the lung
Active research is in the following areas:
- Microscanner Dynamics and Control
- Unsedated Tethered-Capsule Endoscopy (TCE) of the Esophagus
- Active Steering and Surface Scanning of the Bladder
- Guidance System for Ultrathin Bronchsocopy in the Peripheral Lung
- Image-Guided Site Selection for Biopsy
- Small Duct Cancer Surveillance
- Scanning Fiber 3D Endomicroscopies
- Multispectral Fluorescence Endoscopy
- Fluorescence Guided Robotic Surgery
Funding acknowledgments:
- The National Cancer Institute of NIH
- The National Science Foundation
- National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering
- Wallace H. Coulter Foundation
- The Whitaker Foundation
- The Washington Technology Center: Block grant to The Human Interface Technology Lab and Focused Technology Awards
Publications
The following HPL publications are related to this research area:
[bibtex file=HPL_publications.bib group=year group_order=desc key=Kundrat2011,Kundrat2011a,Soper2010,Soper2009,Timoshchuk2014,Zhang2013a,Tran2013,Zhang2013,Zhang2012,Zhang2012a,Blank2011,Zhang2011,Gong2014,Hou2014,Yang2014a,Yang2014,Yang2013b,Yang2013a,Yang2013,Yang2013c,Miller2012,Joshi2012,Deladurantaye2014,Engelbrecht2008,Saar2011,McVeigh2014,Templeton2014,Seibel2012a,Chandler2011a,Chandler2011,Gong2014a,Seibel2010,Seibel2009a,Seibel2008a,Carroll2007]