Student research opportunities
Optical Trepanning: Laser nanosurgery in-vivo
Project Code: CECS_894
This project is available at the following levels:
Engn4200, Engn R&D, Honours, Masters
Keywords:
Optics, microendoscopy, tissue-light interaction, laser ablation
Supervisor:
Dr Steve LeeOutline:
A much-sought after goal in most surgical devices is to only remove diseases cells and tissue with pinpoint accuracy in-vivo. In extremely delicate areas such as the brain, throat, and digestive tract, the balance of treatment against possible collateral damage is complex due to the lack of surgical accuracy in-vivo. Hence the “sharpness” of the blade ultimately defined the “resolution” of any surgery. An ideal medical surgery tool should encompass the means to remove both malignant cells and tissue with single cell precision in-situ without affecting any healthy cells or tissue. By using ultrafast laser technology, we can simultaneously deliver precise energy dosage (~ nano-Joule) to within a few micrometres (sub-cellular level).
In this project, we aim to investigate the feasibility of selective cell to sub-cellular laser ablation in tissue using high resolution graded index endoscope. Using existing two-photon and optical coherence imaging techniques, we conduct basic experiments to define the precision of such remote laser surgery on ex-vivo cell culture and intact tissues slices.A large part of this work will be located at the Microscopy & Cytometry Resource Facility at JCSMR.
Goals of this project
The key outcome from this project will be a clear understanding of the underlying limitations in applying high NA endoscope for tissue laser ablation. This information will serve as a critical step in aid of strategizing a new clinical tool that can remove only diseased or damaged cells and tissue while leaving healthy cells intact.
Requirements/Prerequisites
• Basic knowledge is laser microscopy
• Understanding basic mechanical design and optics principles
• Software programming of Visual C, Matlab or Labview will be preferred but not essential.
• Can work independently and motivated
Student Gain
- Hands-on experience with miniature probe design for micro-ablation technology
- Perform cutting-edge biomedical imaging research using probe design.
- Explore dynamics behind light-tissue interactions
Background Literature
1. C.L Hoy et al, “Towards endoscopic ultrafast laser microsurgery of vocal folds,” Journal of Biomedical Optics 17, 038002 (2012).
2. Barretto RPJ, Messerschmidt B, Schnitzer MJ. (2009) In vivo fluorescence imaging with high-resolution microlenses. Nature Methods. 6(7):511-2.
3. W. M. Lee, S H Yun "Adaptive aberration correction of GRIN lenses for confocal laser scanning micro-endoscopy," Optics Letters 36, 4608 (2011)
4. J K Kim*, W.M Lee* et al, In vivo cellular imaging of internal organs in small animals with GRIN fluorescence endomicroscopy: from fabrication to imaging” Nature Protocols 7 1456-1469(2012) * Equal Contribution
