- Aim 1 Fabrication of novel biocompatible optical fiber based radiation dose and tumor oxygenation level sensors, which are compatible for internal use within patients. Furthermore, each sensor will be highly accurate and immune to external electromagnetic interference, e.g. from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or the radio-frequency system of a linear accelerator (LINAC). The outcome linked to this aim is the fabrication of optical fiber sensor probes that are capable of measurement of oxygen concentration in hypoxic tumors as well as the radiation dose delivered at a single point within the tumor.
- Aim 2 Development of a novel catheter which incorporates both of the aforementioned novel optical fiber sensor probes. A probe with this combined capability does not exist today. The outcome will be the inclusion of both optical fibers into a single specific-purpose catheter, suitable for insertion into the tumor being targeted, and which will contain both optical fiber probes and be clinically compatible in terms of constituent materials and dimensions (the diameter being 1 mm maximum).
- Aim 3 Physical testing of sensor systems developed in Aims 1 and 2 using the radiation biology and clinical irradiation systems. The outcome linked to this aim is a fully functional system comprising the OFS-based catheter and a fully characterized, signal interrogation system using clinical linear accelerators, brachytherapy systems and in a phantom irradiation facility.
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