Minimally Invasive Instrumentation

Minimally Invasive Instrumentation (MINT) advances theoretical and experimental research that relates to biomedical engineering systems for future diagnosis and therapy.

The area originates from Biomedical Instrumentation (BIT) which was established in 1987 by Professor Gert Nilsson. Since 2002, Karin Wårdell is the driving force behind the research as a professor in Biomedical Engineering - Minimally Invasive Instrumentation. Activities include modelling and simulation, software development, signal and MR image acquisition and processing, optical probe design and construction, experimental in-vitro and in-vivo prototype development as well as methods and instrumentation performance evaluation, and translation for clinical settings.

An area of particular interest is biomedical optics including laser Doppler flowmetry (LDF), diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS), fluorescence and Raman spectroscopy. A resent developed system is FluoRa, which combines measurement of in the brain of fluorescence, microcirculation and grey-white matter variations. The projects are typically driven by clinical needs in close collaboration with industry and clinical researchers. Present research is directed towards neuroenginering in the following areas:

Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
Intraoperative MRI in neurosurgery
Neurointensive care monitoring
Optical guidance in neurosurgery

Previous research areas include the instrumental development a of the first laser Doppler perfusion imager (LDPI), the LDPI Duplex mode and high resolution LDPI, as well as many investigations related to the human skin microcirculation. Examples of studies include the spatial variation of skin microcirculation, axon reflex characterization, objective patch test methodology, skin tumour microcirculation, the wound healing process and development of an objective UV-stimuli-response method with LDPI assessment. Both LDPI and LDF have also been adapted for microcirculation on the human beating heart.

Radio-frequency (RF) lesioning in stereotactic neurosurgery is another topic of interest. An optical method for real-time estimation of lesion size was developed. The RF-lesioning process has also been studied by the finite element method (FEM) modelling and simulations.

Research on neuroenginering

Two doctors is standing in front of a screen where a disection of a brain is visible.

Intraoperative MRI in Neurosurgery

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and biomedical optic systems are used for nueroguidance during brain tumor biopsies and resection. DBS implantation and for investigation of cerebral bleedings of neurointensive care patients.

Deep Brain Stimulation

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) researchers bringing together patient-specific simulations, brain atlas and physiological data for clinical support in surgical planning and follow up.

Neurointensive care monitoring

The aim of this multiparametric approach is to investigate the possibility to detect vasospasm, progressing into ischemia and brain infarction, and secondary bleedings in brain trauma at an early stage.

Two researchers looking att a big screen.

Imaging for Stereotactic Neurosurgery

This project works with MRI protocols for stereotactic neurosurgery and has developed a tool based on laser Doppler technique which can be used with the DBS probe to give more data on the surrounding tissue.