Toward Autonomous Histotripsy: Integrating Deep Learning Segmentation With Robotic Control for Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor in which incomplete margin delineation during surgery can contribute to residual disease or unintended damage to healthy tissue. This study proposes an artificial intelligence- and robotics-enabled closed-loop framework for automated tumor delineation and guided histotripsy ablation.

Deep learning models were trained on intra-operative ultrasound data to perform real-time tumor segmentation. The segmentation output was integrated with robotic control to guide histotripsy targeting. The framework was evaluated in mouse GBM models using ex vivo and in vivo experiments.

The models achieved strong real-time tumor segmentation performance. In ex vivo and in vivo experiments, histotripsy targeting generally aligned with the intended treatment region, with minimal undershooting.

These findings support the feasibility of combining artificial intelligence-based ultrasound segmentation with robotic guidance for histotripsy targeting in preclinical GBM models, as a step toward increased treatment automation.