Fiber-Optic Photothermal Ablation Catheter with Skin-Inspired Tactile Sensing for Minimally Invasive Therapy

Minimally invasive surgery has become a prominent approach in modern surgical and interventional procedures, offering advantages such as reduced patient trauma, faster recovery, and improved precision [1], [2]. Among these techniques, thermal ablation is widely used to treat conditions like arrhythmias (such as atrial fibrillation), atherosclerosis, and tumors [3]–[5]. Traditional surgeries relies heavily on tactile feedback to detect abnormal conditions such as tumors or lumps. However, in minimally invasive surgery, especially in confined spaces, it is challenging for surgeons to accurately perceive tissue characteristics through touch. Additionally, conventional thermal ablation probes are often metal-based, have limitations, particularly in terms of compatibility with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) systems.