Hypodermic needles serve as indispensable instruments in a multitude of minimally invasive procedures, facilitating the precise delivery of substances or the extraction of tissue samples across various clinical domains, including regional anesthesia, fetal surgery, and tumor biopsy. Despite their widespread use, conventional needles lack active communication with imaging devices such as ultrasound probes and the ability to sense the tissue environment surrounding the needle tip in real time.

In this webinar, Wenfeng Xia will showcase some of the recent developments from his group in fiber optics imaging and sensing, which are driving a paradigm shift in medical needle technology. By integrating sophisticated sensing and imaging capabilities directly into the needle tip, these innovations can offer unprecedented levels of precision and safety in minimally invasive interventions. These advancements enable not only precise navigation toward targeted tissues but also real-time monitoring of the needle's position and the surrounding tissue environment. Furthermore, the integration of advanced sensing and imaging capabilities into medical needles opens up new avenues for personalized medicine, enabling tailored treatments based on real-time tissue characteristics and responses.

Subject Matter Level: Intermediate - Assumes basic knowledge of the topic

What You Will Learn:
• Optical imaging through medical needles
• Combination of ultrasound and optical imaging for medical applications

Who Should Attend:
• Scientists, researchers, and professors
• Postdoctoral fellows
• Graduate and undergraduate students

All of the above in the fields of biomedical engineering, biophotonics, medicine, and biology.

About the Presenter: Wenfeng Xia from King's College London

Dr. Wenfeng Xia, Senior Lecturer (UK Associate Professor) at King’s College London, holds a BSc in Electrical Engineering from Shanghai Jiao Tong University and an MSc in Medical Physics from the University of Heidelberg. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Twente in 2013. Formerly a Research Associate at University College London, Dr. Xia now leads the Photons+ Ultrasound Research Laboratory (PURL) at King's College London. PURL focuses on technological innovations in photoacoustics, an emerging imaging and sensing technique based on light-induced ultrasound generation, with the aim of transforming surgical and interventional procedures for enhanced patient outcomes.