Brain tumour biopsy

Brain tumours are often the hardest cancers to diagnose in the human body. To determine whether a tumour is benign or malignant it is necessary to remove a small amount of tissue for biopsy. This is done through the use of an endoscope which is inserted into the brain and a small amount of tissue is removed from the target area in the brain. However, because of the extremely delicate nature of the brain, precise placement of the tip of the endoscope is vital to ensure the sample is removed without causing harm to potentially healthy tissue surrounding it.

Researchers at Imperial College, London and STFC’s Micro and Nano-Technology Centre (MNTC) are developing a prototype flexible and steerable endoscope biomimetic neurological probe.

Biomimetics also known as Bionics is the application of biological methods and systems found in nature, to the study and design of engineering applications and technology. The neurological probe is inspired by the ovipositor of a wood boring wasp (Sirex noctilio); the ovipositor is an organ which is used by the wasp to drill into the wood of tree trunks and then to deposit eggs within the tree.

The ovipositor in the wood boring wasp consists of two sliding barbed parts, which penetrate the trunk of the tree by means of a reciprocating action. MNTC is fabricating components for probes which mimic the unique micro texture of the ovipositor in a synthetic polymer called SU-8.

Dr Andreas Schneider from MNTC, who fabricated the components for the neurological probe said. “The micro texturing of the probe’s surface is being investigated to determine whether the small patterns on the probe’s outer walls could help minimise tissue damage as the probe in inserted”

The novel probe will improve the manipulation of endoscopes so that the correct tissue area can be targeted. Various shapes of the microstructured surfaces are currently being tested on gelatine as it has similar elasticity properties to that of human brain tissue.

Dr Andreas Schneider, MNTC – email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it