Research data supporting the PhD thesis Ovipositing the Prostate: Wasp-Inspired Needles for Prostate Laser Ablation

Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in men, especially as they get older. Patients who are diagnosed with prostate cancer at an early stage can be eligible for TransPerineal Laser Ablation (TPLA). For MR-guided local treatments such as TPLA, control of the needle path is of utmost importance to accurately reach the target region. In order to reach the prostate, the needle is inserted transperineally. Commonly used needles are rigid and bound to straight trajectories, which might lead to restricted access because of pubic arch interference or targeting errors because of needle deflection caused by needle-tissue interaction. Therefore, using current needles makes it hard to control the needle trajectory and reach the target region. In nature, needle-like structures exist that allow for trajectory control. Specifically, certain species of parasitic wasps possess a slender and steerable needle-like structure called the ovipositor, of which they can control the trajectory. These wasps not only advance their ovipositors through often stiff substrates without suffering damage by using a so-called self-propelled motion, but they can also steer their ovipositors in order to reach their desired targets. Translating wasp-inspired mechanisms into novel needle designs might help to solve the current challenges with needles for TPLA applications. Therefore, the main purpose of this thesis is to present and evaluate innovative wasp-inspired needle designs developed to enhance needle trajectory control for TPLA treatment.

前列腺癌是男性最常见的癌症类型之一，尤其随年龄增长发病率显著升高。早期确诊前列腺癌的患者可接受经会阴激光消融术（TransPerineal Laser Ablation, TPLA）治疗。对于磁共振引导的局部治疗（如TPLA）而言，穿刺针道的精准控制对于顺利抵达靶区至关重要。为穿刺前列腺组织，需经会阴路径插入穿刺针。当前常用的穿刺针为刚性结构，仅能沿直线轨迹行进，这可能因耻骨弓遮挡导致穿刺通路受限，或因针-组织相互作用引发针体偏转，进而产生靶向误差。因此，使用现有穿刺针难以稳定控制针道并精准抵达靶区。
自然界中存在具备轨迹调控能力的针状结构。具体而言，部分寄生蜂物种拥有细长且可转向的针状结构——产卵器（ovipositor），它们可对该结构的运动轨迹进行精准控制。这类寄生蜂不仅能通过所谓的自推进运动，在坚硬的基质中推进产卵器且不会造成结构损伤，还可通过转向产卵器以抵达预设的目标位点。
将寄生蜂的仿生机制转化为新型穿刺针设计方案，或可解决当前TPLA应用中穿刺针面临的技术挑战。因此，本论文的核心研究目标在于展示并评估受寄生蜂启发的新型穿刺针设计，该设计旨在优化TPLA治疗中的针道控制性能。