GLASSCATH project: Glass-based force sensing catheter for endoscopy

11 Apr 2024
Job Information

Organisation/Company

Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB)

Department

TIPs

Research Field

Engineering » Microengineering

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

Belgium

Application Deadline

10 May 2024 - 09:00 (Europe/Brussels)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Early stage research grant (12 months), 1 open PhD position in 2024 at Université libre de Bruxelles

Medical context for a new engineering tool

Sensitive force measurement is a key element in many medical applications. For instance, the early stage detection of cancers located in areas of critical access (lungs, prostate, brain, …) is the key to maximize the success of the therapy. There is now clear evidence that healthy and tumoral tissues can be discriminated from their mechanical response. However, very few techniques are compatible for use in the operating channel of an endoscope or bronchoscope aiming at bringing an in vivo diagnosis. Another need is a force measurement tool which could be inserted into the middle ear.

Objectives

We plan to manufacture an optical fiber tip, shaped to penetrate inside tissues. A flexible glass part containing a single-mode optical waveguide and an in-built fiber Bragg grating strain sensor will be engineered to determine the force measurement in tissues. The instrumented optical fiber tips will be tested on phantoms (gels and pieces of meat) to improve their performance through multiple iterations if required. They will be finally validated on fresh biopsied lung tissues. To that aim, we will rely on the assistance of Prof. D. Leduc (pneumologist) and Prof. M. Vander Ghinst (Ear Nose Throat) at the Erasme hospital in Brussels.

Methods

Our sensing platform will be entirely produced using the FemtoPrint process. By controlling the near-infrared femtosecond pulses applied to glass (both in terms of energy and focusing depth), successive manufacturing steps will be implemented:

Production of a single-mode optical waveguide within a multimode optical fiber (outer diameter of 1 mm has been chosen to provide a good mix of axial rigidity for tissues indentation and bending compliance towards force sensing).

Structuration (thinning down by etching) of the optical fiber cross-section along its propagation axis (over a few millimeters) to create a compliant spring-like element exhibiting strain upon contact with the tissues to characterize. These targeted compliant structures enable strains upon application of an external force. We expect performances comparable with the best of literature

Production of an embedded sensor within the spring section, i.e. a prolongation of the waveguide patterned with a Bragg grating.

 

Research environment

The candidate will be supervised by Prof. Pierre Lambert at Université libre de Bruxelles (ULB), and co-supervised by Prof. Christophe Caucheteur at Université de Mons (UMons).

Prof. Pierre Lambert belongs to the TIPs department of ULB  (http://plambert.ulb.be/ ). The TIPs department belong to the Polytechnic School of Université libre de Bruxelles and operates the experimental platform micromilli.ulb.be, equipped with all necessary facilities for manufacturing and characterization at the small scale.

Prof. Christophe Caucheteur belongs to the Photonics department of Université de Mons, and operates the experimental resources in photonics.

 

Requirements

Research Field

Engineering

Education Level

Master Degree or equivalent

Skills/Qualifications

We are looking for an excellent candidate (m/f), talented and enthusiastic. Such a PhD position can only been accessed to a graduated student holding a 120 credits master. The candidate will hold a master in biomedical, physical or electromechanical engineering. She/he   should have a solid background in mechanical design and precision mechanics, skilled with  Matlab or Python, and CAD-CAM tools (Solidworks, Alphacam). Additional skills in photonics are an asset.

Both candidates should have good command (C1-C2) of spoken and written English, as well as the basics in French (B2) to share the daily life with other lab members.

Languages

ENGLISH

Level

Excellent

Languages

FRENCH

Level

Excellent

Additional Information
Benefits

The position is initially open at ULB (Brussels) for a 12 months early stage research, to be extended to a full PhD funding (4 years) in case of success to a FRIA PhD grant contest or to a FNRS research project, whose results will be known in December 2024.

Duration: 1 year full time
Starting date: Immediate

Deadline for the submission of applications: Position open until filled

Selection process

Applications including CV, names of two and statement of future interests should be sent to Prof. Pierre LAMBERT ([email protected] )

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

ULB Solbosch Campus (Brussels)

Country

European Union

City

Brussels

Geofield

Where to apply

E-mail

[email protected]

Contact

City

Brussels

Website

http://www.ulb.be

Street

50 Avenue F.D. Roosevelt

Postal Code

1050

STATUS: EXPIRED