Characterization of tumour laser ablation probes with temperature measuring capabilities

The paper reports on the development and characterization of an innovative all-optical laser delivery fibre probe for cancer cell ablation with simultaneous temperature sensing capabilities. The probe integrates a grating-based temperature sensor and a laser delivery fibre whose tip surface is micro-structured for adapting the beam diffusion to the tumour geometry. Different temperature sensor configurations are analysed; then the most promising is characterized in a simulated laser ablation process using a specific phantom to emulate real liver tissue.