CONTEXT

Glioblastoma is the most common and most aggressive brain tumor in humans. Treatment may include chemotherapy, radiation therapy and surgery. These measures are considered palliative. The life expectancy of five years of this disease has changed little over the last thirty years and does not exceed ten percent.
Surgery is very difficult on glioblastomas due to the depth of the lesions and their dispersion. Among the various factors of good prognosis highlighted, the quality of resection has long been discussed but is currently recognized as the best treatment. Several studies confirm an improvement in median survival in case of total resection. Different techniques (endoscopic microsurgery, ultrasound, MRI intraoperative) are currently proposed to improve the quality of resection. All have their limits. Finding a more efficient method is a real challenge to assure a better survival of the patients.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

This invention describes a device of intra operative detection which can be coupled with resection tools to remove tumors. The sensor is composed of two types of optical fibers (clear and scintillating) that allow simultaneous detection of:

• Tissue fluorescence thanks to clear optical fibers
• β particles from the tumor radiative tracers via the scintillating optical fibers

The device includes the intra operative probe and the excision tool. The localization and removal of residual tumor areas can be done by introducing the probe into the excised wound after excising the main part of the visible tumor. Local measure of radioactivity and/or fluorescence around the lesion is done in real time by scanning the cavity with the sensor. Cancerous tissue removal is finally controlled at each step of exploiration based on in vivo results of the tumor markers concentration.

DEVELOPMENT STAGE

A first prototype of the radioactive configuration of the intraoperative probe has been developed and tested on an animal model in order to evaluate its association with the excision tool. The compactness and performances of the device have been also improved by implementing a new generation of photosensors. The clinical evaluation of the new prototype is being prepared.

BENEFITS

The key point of this invention is both to combine the detection system and the excision tool and the optical and nuclear detection methods.
This device also offers the advantage of being very compact and electrical inert, which fitted its introduction into the wound and its coupling with resection tools.
The detector is well-adapted to the constraints of various surgical protocols due to the large range of interchangeable sensor heads covering different specifications.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS

The main application of this invention is to provide a medical aid to surgeons in treatment of cancer surgery and more specifically gliomas. The field of clinical application of the invention is open to all cancer diseases whose treatment is based on a complete and precise ablation of tumor tissue.

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