This PhD project aims to develop a laser speckle sensing ductoscopy system, integrated with the MammoBot soft robotic platform, for the early detection of breast cancer. Laser speckle sensing analyses backscattered light to reveal biomechanical changes in ductal tissue that are invisible under conventional white-light ductoscopy. The compact probe will be embedded within MammoBot’s steerable cannula, enabling precise navigation inside mammary ducts and real-time examination of suspicious tissue.
The student will design and build the optical system, develop optical signal processing algorithms for real-time sensing, and validate performance in phantoms, and robotic navigation experiments. This dual innovation, combining advanced biomechanical imaging with robotic ductoscopy, has strong translational potential as a minimally invasive tool to reduce unnecessary biopsies and improve survival rates. The student will gain interdisciplinary training across photonics, robotics, and surgical oncology, preparing them for a career at the forefront of medical technology.
