Miniaturization of an in-vivo measuring device for endoscopy
Context and Motivations
Colorectal cancer strikes more than 140,000 people every year in the United States, 50,000 of them will die in 2014. Over a lifetime, the risk of developing a cancer is about 5%. [1] Gastroenterologists have great challenges ahead of them.
The screening of this cancer is made using endoscopes. During these procedures, endoscopists search for potential tumours and in particular, for polyps. The latter are classified based on their size and shape using the Paris classification [2]. This classification[1] is the gold standard set of criteria for this type of diagnosis. It is based on the geometry analysis (size, shape) of polyps. So far, no commercially available measurement system is reliable enough to make measurement in-vivo [3]; ex-vivo analysis is thus required.
A measurement device has been developed in a Ph.D. Thesis [4] made in the BEAMS laboratory. During this research, it has been shown the technology known as structured light enables to make accurate real time measurement of polyps. The prototype is shown Figure 1. It is based on the analysis of a projected line which acts as a virtual ruler, see Figure 1.
Figure 1: Measurement of a polyp using the device developed in the thesis [4]
Aim of the Project
The aim of the project is to miniaturize the device shown Figure 2, in order to be less invasive so that it could be used in other applications, such as pneumology, where measurements are also medically very important. Test with clinicians will have to be made for validation. For confidentiality reasons, more information upon request to the supervisor.
Figure 2 : Device to miniaturize
Promotor : Alain Delchambre
Supervisor : Benjamin Mertens
Contact :
Références:
[1] Parkin, D.M., Bray, F., Ferlay, J., Pisani, P. Global cancer statistics, 2002 (2005) Ca-A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, 55 (2), pp. 74-108
[2] H. Inoue, H. Kashida, S. Kudo, M. Sasako, T. Shimoda, H. Watanabe, S. Yoshida, M. Guelrud, C. Lightdale,
K.Wang, et al., The paris endoscopic classification of superficial neoplastic lesions: esophagus, stomach, and colon:
November 30 to december 1, 2002, Gastrointest Endoscopy 58 (6 Suppl) (2003) S3–43.
[3] R. M. Summers, Polyp size measurement at ct colonography: What do we know and what do we need to know? 1,
Radiology 255 (3) (2010) 707–720.
[4] Mertens, B. Bringing 3D and Quantitative Data in Flexible Endoscopy, Ph.D. Thesis, Université libre de Bruxelles (2014).
[1] This classification is well detailed on the World endoscopy organization http://www.worldendo.org/paris-endo-classification.html