TOPIC NUMBER 431 CANCER TREATMENT TECHNOLOGIES FOR LOW-RESOURCE SETTINGS

Fluorescent guided surgery is receiving increased attention for cancer treatment. Fluorescent dyes aid identification of cancerous cells that can be missed by the naked eye. A laser ablation system of cancerous solid tumors and groups of cell, with custom made handpieces equipped with camera systems for excitation of fluorophores and collection of emitted photons will further aid treatment. Completion of this Phase II will result in a marketable, pre-production laser system for photoablation of tumors in colorectal cancers. Each handpiece will have three cameras. Two CMOS cameras will provide high-def intraoperative visualization features, like having a microscope in the surgeon’s hand, while the ToF camera enhances CMOS performance by adding distance and depth to the software algorithms. After handpiece assembly, a laser system will be developed, mountable on a mobile cart, fully equipped with galvanometers and a CO2 (9.3 mm wavelength) beam delivery system compatible with each handpiece, resulting in a system that can be applied to colon cancer, and cervical and oral later, while being convenient to move and easy to use. Three pre-production systems will be built for testing in clinical settings including in a LMIC.