Sounding out Malignancy: AI-Assisted Acoustic Sensing for Real-Time Tumour Detection in Brain Surgery

Date

Jul 8, 2025

Time

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Speaker

Dr. Melanie Stamp

Affiliation

The University of Melbourne, FEIT Infrastructure Team | Faculty of Engineering and Information Tech

Language

en

Main Topic

Materialien

Host

Ines Firlle

Description

Brain tumours pose a significant challenge in modern neurosurgery due to their invasive nature and the high recurrence rate of over 30%, often resulting from malignant cells infiltrating healthy brain tissue. Current intraoperative techniques lack the real-time precision needed to differentiate between neoplastic and non-neoplastic tissues, leading to incomplete tumour resections and increased risks of neurological complications. Our research addresses this gap by integrating AI-assisted surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors into surgical tools for real-time mechanical property analysis during brain surgery. Acoustic sensing technology enables real-time, non-invasive differentiation between tumorous and non-neoplastic tissues by leveraging their mechanical property differences, as tumours typically exhibit greater stiffness. In our study, we combine high-frequency SAW sensors with AI algorithms to analyse and classify mechanical responses in GelMA hydrogel tissue models. Experimental results indicate that SAW sensors can sensitively detect stiffness changes; softer materials show greater wave attenuation. When applied to tumour tissue, we observe that stiffer tumours produce stronger SAW reflections compared to healthy brain tissue, providing immediate feedback suitable for intraoperative use. Our findings demonstrate that SAW sensors can detect subtle mechanical changes without damaging tissue, offering a key advantage over traditional diagnostic techniques. The integration of AI enhances classification accuracy, enabling more precise tumour resections. This approach addresses a critical gap in surgical diagnostics, improving the ability to delineate tumour margins and reduce recurrence rates, ultimately contributing to safer, more effective neurosurgery and improved patient recovery.

Links

• Seminars at the IFW

Last modified: Jul 1, 2025, 7:38:46 AM