3D Navigation for Selective Bronchoscopic Nebulization
The proposed platform also requires software: 3D navigation to guide a catheter towards the lung segment that needs to be addressed. This thesis focuses on planning and evaluating that navigation workflow using a 3D representation of the airways.
The student will develop a method to select a target lung segment, plan a bronchoscopic route, and assess whether the route supports consistent catheter placement for local nebulization. One proposed application is injection of a fluorescent imaging probe to investigate whether intraoperative “black spots” in non-ventilated areas correlate with the tumor area. Another is guidance for local administration of immune checkpoint inhibitors/intratumoral therapy. The thesis will evaluate the navigation workflow; the proposed imaging correlation and treatment effects would require separate clinical validation.
Suitable for: A student interested in medical image processing, 3D navigation, and software development.