Novel Optical Methods for Identification, Imaging, and Preservation of the Cavernous Nerves Responsible for Penile Erections during Prostate Cancer Surgery

摘要

There is wide variability in sexual potency rates (9-86%) after prostate cancer surgery due to a limited understanding of the location of the cavernous nerves, which are responsible for erectile function. Advances in identification and preservation of these nerves would result in improved postoperative potency and patient quality of life. We hypothesize that application of 3 optical technologies for identification, imaging, and preservation of the nerves during prostate surgery will result in improved sexual function: (1) Laser nerve stimulation for identification, (2) optical coherence tomography (OCT) for nerve imaging, and (3) precise laser prostate dissection for nerve preservation. In Year 3, we compared time domain and fourier-domain OCT for prostate imaging. We also developed a new approach to stimulation of prostate nerves using continuous-wave laser radiation, a new laser wavelength, and an all-single-mode fiber system, which resulted in faster stimulation and a more compact, less expensive system. We published 2 manuscripts and 3 conference proceedings on this work.