Descripción del proyecto
Ablación láser controlada de tumores innovadora
Una alternativa mínimamente atraumática a la cirugía oncológica tradicional está creando un mercado mundial de dispositivos de ablación térmica para tratar órganos como el encéfalo, la próstata, la mama, el páncreas o los pulmones, sobre todo en casos de tumores inoperables. La ablación con láser se ha utilizado satisfactoriamente en casos de difícil acceso para la cirugía convencional. En un estudio anterior, se desarrolló una plataforma innovadora que integra una estrategia de control de bucle cerrado de ablación láser con sensores de fibra óptica y que modula la potencia del láser según la temperatura del tejido. El proyecto LEILA, financiado con fondos europeos, tiene por objeto integrar esta plataforma con un aplicador inteligente para la administración de láser y el control de la temperatura. Su equipo llevará a cabo un estudio de viabilidad técnico-comercial para comercializar este sistema innovador.
Objetivo
The need of a minimally invasive alternative to traditional cancer surgery is pushing the global market of thermal ablation devices, mainly for treating delicate organs (brain, prostate, breast, pancreas, lung) in inoperable patients. With its fine and flexible applicator, laser ablation (LA) was successfully used in lesions difficult to access with conventional surgery, and its market is expected to show the highest growth rates in the next 5 years. However, crucial aspects and clinical needs are still unsolved for LA: the poor reproducibility of the procedure outcome and the lack of mini-invasive and accurate intraprocedural control make LA strongly relying on the doctor experience. The lack of control causes subtotal tumor coverage, thus bringing cancer progression and recurrence. To solve this issue, in the ERC LASER OPTIMAL project that I lead, it was developed the first platform which integrates a closed-loop control strategy of LA with multiplexed fiber optic sensors (FOSs) at the millimetric-scale, and modulates the laser power based on the measured tissue temperature. LEILA is the integration of this control platform with a novel smart applicator embedding the laser delivery and the temperature monitoring with FOSs. In this PoC proposal, the technical-commercial feasibility study will be performed to move the LEILA system to the market. The PoC will allow prototyping the system, establishing contact with stakeholders for testing and integration of LEILA in existing medical systems, and preparing a ready-to-use tool. The PoC will also set the market and health technology assessment, the business model, and the IP protection strategy with identification of the best exploitation strategy for valorising the know-how.
Ámbito científico
Palabras clave
Programa(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Régimen de financiación
HORIZON-ERC-POC - HORIZON ERC Proof of Concept GrantsInstitución de acogida
20133 Milano
Italia