Medical applications
The main reasons to work with Fibre Optic FBG technology instead of conventional methods in medical applications are that FBG’s and fibres are very robust, easy to clean and flexible. By having multiple sensors per fibre (with a core of 125 ìm) you can create a very compact network of sensors. The fibres can survive in harsh environments such as chemical substances and high temperatures. Our sensors and systems are ideal for accurate measurements of forces, pressure and temperature for minimal invasive / non-invasive surgery.
PITON
Minimally invasive interventional techniques reduce the overall costs of the health care system and help societies to cope with the increasing difficulty of providing care of acceptable standards. The type of interventional techniques most needed, yet least provided, are those procedures with which one can access deeper structures in the human body with minimal damage to healthy tissue. Current technical limitations associated with surgical navigation using instruments of minimal dimensions mean that the traditional, open approach is still used in the majority of all interventions.
The objective of the PITON project is to develop steerable, MRI-compatible robotic instruments with precise force sensing for accurate tissue characterization and dexterous navigation in percutaneous interventions. The global challenges of the project form a good match with the competencies of the Dutch High-Tech Systems sector. The PITON consortium consists of innovative partners with the essential complementary expertise for creating viable medical robots. The miniature, steerable mechanisms developed by DEAM, real-time biocompatible sensors by TFTFOS, and MRI-compatible equipment by De Koningh, together with the systems validation expertise of HemoLab, are an ideal combination to ensure that all technical challenges can be realized as part of the PITON project. Current links with major manufacturers, such as Microline Pentax and Isodone, will enable the consortium to
swiftly implement the results after project completion. The PITON project is giving these companies, together with TU Delft, TU/e, and TNO, the opportunity to form strategic alliances, and to bring their innovations together in an economically viable industry. The main contribution of TFT-FOS will be the development and realization of a prototype ‘Deminsys-Python’ interrogator. This device will offer real-time, low-latency, multi-channel signal output for the registration of FBG sensor output. TFT-FOS will also invest in the development of optic fibers with suitable mechanical properties for the proposed applications.