An Enhanced Biopsy Needle for Endobronchial and other Biopsy Procedures

In medicine, especially in cancer medicine, biopsy procedures are of critical importance as they allow tissue sampling by insertion of a hollow needle for use in various medical tests. One type of needle biopsy currently in use is endobronchial ultrasound guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) which, is used to sample lymph node tissue to stage cancers and diagnose granulomatous diseases. During the EBUS-TBNA procedure, a tubular medical imaging tool (a bronchoscope) is inserted through the patient's mouth into the bronchial tree. Once the right location in the bronchial tree is found using the attached ultrasound system, a needle pierces through the bronchial wall into the lymph node to collect the tissue sample. Several medical institutions around the world, have found that the procedure suffers from a sub-diagnostic ability as the devices currently use push the tissue away rather than allowing it to enter the needle, due to the needle tip shape. Because of that, the diagnostic yield is characterized by the quality if the collected tissue sample, is estimated to be 61%. A failed diagnostic procedure slows down treatment and causes additional strain on patients and hospital infrastructure. The aim of the PHD project therefore will be to design a better needle. This will be achieved by understanding the properties of the tissue and its interaction with the needle. To achieve the tasks, several areas will be looked at: The needle types, tissue type and insertion speed. Through examination, what happens at the tip of the needle during the puncture of a membrane involving cadaver and critical specimen will be explore. A model describing the interaction between the different aspects of a needle-tissue interaction. This model is particularly important as it enable the detailed encoding of experiment equipment, condition, design and results and can therefore be used as the blueprint for a database of experimental needle interaction with human tissue.

FUSE has been designed to maximise impact in partnership with industry, international academics, and other organisations such as NPL and the NHS. It includes funded mechanisms to deal with opportunities in equality, diversity and integration (EDI) and in realisation of impactful outcomes.

EDI is aimed at realising the full potential of the talented individuals that join FUSE. Funding mechanisms include support for ten undergraduate internships to prime the pipeline into FUSE research studentships; part-time studentships reserved for people with specific needs to access this route; and talent scholarships for people from Widening Participation backgrounds. Additionally, cultural issues will be addressed through funded support for work life-balance activities and for workshops exploring the enhancement of research creativity and inventiveness through diversity.

People: As a community, FUSE will contribute to impact principally through its excellent training of outstanding people. At least 54 EngD and PhD graduates will emerge with very high value skills from the experience FUSE will provide in ultrasonics and through highly relevant professional skills. This will position them perfectly as future leaders in ultrasonics in the types of organisation represented by the partners.

Knowledge: FUSE will also create significant knowledge which will be captured in many different forms including industrial know-how, patents and processes, designs, and academic papers. Management of this knowledge will be integrated into the students' training, including data management and archival, and will be communicated effectively to those in positions to exploit it.

Economic Gain: In turn, the people and knowledge will lead to the economic impact that FUSE is ultimately designed to generate. The close interaction between the FUSE academics, its research students and industry partners will make it particularly efficient and, since FUSE includes both suppliers and customers, the transition from knowledge creation to exploitation will be accelerated.

Societal Benefit: FUSE is well placed to deliver a number of societal benefits which will reinforce our researcher training and external partner impacts. This activity encompasses new consumer products; improved public safety through advanced inspection across many industrial sectors; and new modalities for medical surgery and therapy. In addition, FUSE will provide engaging demonstrators to promote education in science, technology, engineering and maths, helping replenish the FUSE pipeline and supporting growth of the FUSE community far beyond its immediate members.

Impactful outcomes will gain from several specific funding mechanisms: horizon scanning workshops will focus on specific ultrasonic engineering application areas with industrial and other external participation; all FUSE students will have external partners and both industrial and international academic secondments will be arranged, as well as EngD studentships primarily in industry; and industry case studies will be considered. There will also be STEM promotion activity, funding ultrasonic technology demonstrators to support school outreach and public science and engineering events.