Blog: Valeria Dosso's experience of the IHE Summer Studentship

This summer I had the incredible opportunity to work on an IHE Summer Studentship at UCL and UCLH. My project consisted of the fabrication of tissue-mimicking training models, known as phantoms, for endobronchial ultrasound and bronchoscopy.

Having previously worked on a similar project during my third year, I was excited to continue my research at Charles Bell House and carry on the work I had previously done.

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer in the world. Its staging currently relies on a procedure called Endobronchial Ultrasound-Guided Transbronchial Needle Aspiration (EBUS-TBNA). The procedure is done under ultrasound guidance and a needle is used to collect biological tissue samples of lymph-nodes suspected to be malignant. Given the complexity of the procedure, clinicians need in-depth training to be able to carry out EBUS-TBNA successfully without harming the patient. Therefore, the development of tissue-mimicking phantoms is becoming more and more important for the correct training of young clinical practitioners.

At the moment, very few phantoms are available on the market and they present many drawbacks, which limit the realism and effectiveness of surgical simulations. In addition, previous studies don’t investigate how material properties can be tuned to enhance ultrasound appearance. Therefore, my project focused on the optimisation of ultrasound properties and the implementation of vessels in EBUS phantoms.

One of the aspects I enjoyed the most of this studentship was the time spent in the lab experimenting with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), 3D printing and laser cutting. Initially, I was intimidated by the fabrication process and scared to make mistakes. Nevertheless, as I became more familiar with the equipment and materials, I found a profound sense of satisfaction in seeing my designs and ideas come to life. Overcoming those moments of uncertainty allowed me to develop not only my technical skills, but also to boost my confidence in taking decisions independently in the lab.

The most significant challenge during this project was achieving a high degree of realism in the structure and ultrasound appearance of PVA vessels. Simulating the intricate structures of lung vasculature demanded meticulous attention to details and experimentation with different fabrication strategies. Nevertheless, through trial and error, I was able to tune the properties such that the requirements set for the phantom were satisfied.

During the studentship, I truly appreciated the collaborative environment I found between Charles Bell House and UCLH. In fact, all the models and samples I fabricated were subsequently evaluated by medical professionals to gather feedback and seek improvement. In addition, at UCLH I had the privilege to observe clinical procedures conducted by Dr. Ricky Thakrar and Dr. Neal Navani, which provided a tangible connection between my research and its practical application in real medical scenarios.

Thanks to this experience, I improved both technical and soft skills, which are going to be fundamental for my future studies and career aspirations. I have gained insight on the importance of bridging the gap between academical research and practical medical applications, which reaffirmed my interest in a career focused on healthcare technology. Finally, I would like to thank Dr Efthymios Maneas, Prof Adrien Desjardins and Miss Anastasia Stoica for their invaluable mentorship and guidance throughout the studentship.

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