The new thermometry with light: fiber optic sensors and novel imaging technologies for monitoring thermal-based therapies for localized tumors.

---

Lend us your senses for Sensing in the 21^st Century. This online series organised by the UK and Ireland Sensors Council comprises some of the most distinguished lecturers in one of the widest technology spectrums in Society. We encourage all of your senses to join!  In IEEE we might agree with Kant when he states “All our knowledge begins with the senses…”!

Paola Saccomandi is Associate Professor at the Department of Mechanical Engineering of Politecnico di Milano since 2018 (POLIMI). In 2021, she has obtained the National Academic Qualification as Full Professor (Measurements). She will present a distinguished lecture on "the new thermometry with light: fiber optic sensors and novel imaging technologies for monitoring thermal-based therapies for localized tumors."

Time/Date 14^th November at 15.00 GMT.

Guest Lecture focus.

Abstract

Energy-based image-guided interventions provide a minimally-invasive treatment option for cancer patients who may not be surgical candidates, with limited systemic toxicity, and the potential to synergize with other therapeutic modalities. Achieving optimal therapeutic outcomes relies on precise and conformal energy delivery localized to targeted tissues.

Small-size and flexible fiber optic sensors (FOSs) are increasingly entering in the design of minimally invasive medical devices. Technologies based on high-density Fiber Bragg Gratings (FBGs) or distributed sensing, based on Brillouin and Rayleigh scattering, allow for accurate and spatially resolved information along the entire length of a surgical instrument (pressure, strain, temperature), without the use of additional devices. Thus, recently, FOSs have emerged as optimal tool to control energy-based therapies, thus providing temperature monitoring with millimetric spatial resolution for thermal-based therapies for localized tumors.

This lecture will present emerging applications of FOSs for thermometry and feedback-controlled delivery of thermal treatments. FBGs and distributed sensors will be described and discussed for their capability to perform the accurate analysis of the thermal effects of medical devices for thermal therapies and to tune and validate organ-specific numerical models for the prediction of temperature distribution in biological tissues. Emerging application of FBGs for the investigation of the thermal response of nanomaterials intended for photothermal therapies will also be presented.

While FOSs allow measuring and controlling the tissue temperature distribution evolving during laser treatment, novel solutions are needed to directly monitor the thermal state of biological tissues. Thus, this lecture will also present an innovative hyperspectral imaging approach for monitoring and predicting the thermal state of biological tissues, using its optical “fingerprint” as sensor.

Co-Hosts:

The UK and Ireland Sensors Council is cooperating with the UK and Ireland AESS, EMBS, Electronic Packaging and Reliability Joint Chapters and Nano Council to organise this Distinguished Lecture on 25 November '25.

Registration

IEEE and non-IEEE Members are invited to Register and participate.

IEEE Members should include their IEEE Membership Number when registering.

Access to online Meeting

Registered participants will be provided with the link prior to the event.

---

---

---

---

15.00-15.05.  Introduction by Paul Bermingham Vice-Chair IEEE UK and Ireland Sensors Council.

15.05-15.50. Professor Paola Saccomandi presents The new thermometry with light: fiber optic sensors and novel imaging technologies for monitoring thermal-based therapies for localized tumors.

15.50-16.00 Q&A.

---