Researchers at Worcester Polytechnic Institute announced on Apr. 8 the development of a flexible optical fiber that can be guided through a medical endoscope to reach and destroy tumors in the larynx that are otherwise difficult to access. This advancement could offer new outpatient laser treatment options for patients who might otherwise require surgery under general anesthesia.
The innovation is significant because some patients, such as those with cardiac conditions, may not be able to undergo general anesthesia and conventional laser surgery for growths in the larynx. Loris Fichera, associate professor in the Department of Robotics Engineering and leader of the research team, said, "An improved medical device could address that problem by giving some patients an option to undergo laser treatment while under mild sedation in medical offices instead."
The newly developed device consists of a flexible optical fiber threaded through a thin-walled nickel-titanium sheath measuring 1.6 millimeters in diameter. The sheath is designed with notches so it can bend and is small enough to fit into an endoscope—a tube-like instrument equipped with a light and camera used by surgeons to examine internal tissues.
During tests using a 3D-printed replica of a human larynx, researchers were able to reach about 81% of previously inaccessible targets using their steerable tool. The procedure typically involves inserting an endoscope through the nostril after numbing the vocal folds with cooling spray; however, more challenging cases often require hospital-based procedures under general anesthesia.
Fichera emphasized that further research and development are needed before clinical use. He noted that current testing was done on rigid models rather than live tissue and required two operators instead of one. Improvements may allow single-operator use in future versions.
The research was published in the American Society of Medical Engineers' Journal of Medical Devices. In addition to Fichera, co-authors include Alex Chiluisa, Kang Zhang, Yao Shen, Lucas Burstein, Yuxiang Liu from WPI's Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, and Thomas Carroll from Harvard Medical School's Department of Otolaryngology.
