Novel Balloon Surface Scanning Device for Intraoperative Breast Endomicroscopy

Area of Science:

• Medical technology
• Surgical robotics
• Cancer imaging

Background:

• Fluorescence confocal endomicroscopy aids real-time identification of residual tumor cells.
• Manual operation of current probes limits systematic surgical site surveys due to small field-of-view and inconsistent contact.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a robotized scanning device for controlled, large-area imaging of surgical cavities.
• To overcome limitations of manual probe operation for intraoperative tumor margin assessment.

Main Methods:

• A compact robotic scanning probe featuring an inflatable balloon was designed and fabricated.
• The probe's outer diameter is 4 mm with a 2.2 mm working channel, accommodating flexible fiber bundle endomicroscope probes.
• Tip positioning accuracy was evaluated for bending (0.26 mm) and rotational (0.17 mm) motions.

Main Results:

• The inflatable balloon ensures stable scanning over undulating cavity surfaces.
• Large area scanning capabilities were demonstrated, covering 25-35 mm².
• The device achieved high tip positioning accuracy for precise navigation.

Conclusions:

• The developed robotic scanning probe offers a solution for systematic intraoperative evaluation of tumor margins.
• The device shows significant potential for improving surgical outcomes in breast conserving surgery by ensuring complete tumor removal.