OPTOMON

Nerve damage is one of the major risks associated with surgical procedures and can lead to permanent functional impairments, particularly during abdominal and pelvic surgeries. The OPTOMON project is therefore developing a novel method for monitoring at-risk nerves during minimally invasive and robot-assisted surgeries. Unlike established electrical neuromonitoring, nerve stimulation is achieved using pulsed infrared laser radiation. The laser pulses are to be directed to the tissue via the optical system of an endoscope or a robotic surgical platform. This allows nerve function to be monitored regularly without interrupting the surgical procedure with additional instrument changes. A key scientific and technical challenge is the precise control of the energy delivered: While too little energy fails to trigger reliable stimulation, too much energy can cause thermal damage to the nerve tissue. OPTOMON therefore combines optical stimulation with continuous temperature measurement and automatic regulation of laser power. Building on successful preliminary laboratory work, a temperature-controlled prototype will first be developed and validated on tissue specimens. This will be followed by preclinical studies, the integration of the technology into rigid endoscopes, and a final evaluation under conditions simulating surgery. The goal is to develop an endoscopically integrated demonstrator at Technology Readiness Level 5. In the long term, the results are to be translated into components for manufacturers of endoscopes, surgical robotic systems, and neuromonitoring solutions. The project thus combines medical technology research, patient safety, and commercial technology transfer.