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Ερευνητικά Εργαστήρια

Therapeutic Ultrasound

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Ερευνητικά Εργαστήρια/Therapeutic Ultrasound

Mission

The therapeutic ultrasound Laboratory was founded in September of 2012. The mission of the Laboratory is to perform research in the field of MRI guidance of therapeutic ultrasound mainly for applications in the brain. The laboratory specializes in the design of MRI compatible robots MRI. The strategic objective of the Laboratory is to create other applications of therapeutic ultrasound in medicine. The Laboratory includes complete equipment and has no dependency on any other laboratories. Head of the lab is Christakis Damianou (professor) who has 34 years of experience in this field and has participated in 47 research projects. The lab is housed in the Stoa Lanitis building.

Grants

·          PROSTASONIC

·          FUSROBOT

·          SOUNDPET

Photos

Journal Publications

  1.  Hynynen K., Damianou C., Darkazanli A., Unger E., Schenck J., "The feasibility of using MRI to monitor and guide noninvasive ultrasound surgery", Ultrasound Med. Biol., Vol. 19 (1), pp. 91-92, 1992.
  2. Hynynen K., Damianou C., Alexander A., Unger E., Cline H., Schenck J., "Demonstration of MR-guided Noninvasive US surgery of the Kidney", Radiology, Vol.189(Suppl), pp. 224, 1993.
  3. Damianou C., Hynynen K., "Focal spacing and near-field heating during pulsed high temperature ultrasound therapy", Ultrasound Med. Biol., Vol. 19 (9), pp. 777-787, 1993.
  4. Damianou C., Hynynen K., "The effects of various physical parameters on the size and shape of necrosed tissue volume during ultrasound surgery", J. of Acoust. Soc. Am., Vol. 95 (3), pp. 1641-1649,1993.
  5. Hynynen K., Darkazanli A., Damianou C., Unger E., Schenck J., "Tissue thermometry during ultrasound exposure", Eur. Urol., Vol. 23 (suppl 1), pp. 12-16, 1993.
  6. Hynynen K., Darkazanli A., Damianou C., Unger E., Schenck J., "The usefulness of a contrast agent and Gradient-Recalled Acquisition in a Steady-State Imaging sequence for Magnetic Resonance Imaging-Guided noninvasive ultrasound surgery", Inv. Radiology, Vol. 29 (10), pp. 897-903, 1994.
  7. Vykhodtseva N., Hynynen K., Damianou C., "Pulse duration and peak intensity during focussed ultrasound surgery: Theoretical and experimental effects in rabbit brain in vivo", Ultrasound in Med. & Biol., Vol. 20 (9), pp. 987-1000, 1994.
  8. Vykhodtseva N., Hynynen K., Damianou C., "Histologic effects of high Intensity pulsed ultrasound exposure with subharmonic emission in rabbit brain in, vivo”, Ultrasound Med. Biol., Vol. 21(7), pp. 696-979, 1995.
  9. C. Damianou, “The role of High Intensity Focused Ultrasound in the treatment of Benign and Malignant Tumors, Cyprus Journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 1(1), pp. 101-104, 1995.
  10. Hynynen K., Damianou C., Collucci V., Unger E., Cline H., Jolesz F., "MR monitoring of focused utrasonic surgery of renal cortex: Experimental and simulation studies",  JMRI, Vol. 5(3), 259-266, 1995.
  11. Maass R., Damianou C., Sanghvi N., "Tissue temperature estimation during focussed ultrasound ablation using pulse-echo techniques",  Ultrasonic Imaging 17, 60-61, 1995.
  12. Damianou C., Hynynen K., Fan X., "Evaluation of accuracy of a theoretical model for predicting the necrosed tissue volume during focused ultrasound surgery", IEEE Trans. on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics, and frequency Control, Vol. 42 (2), pp. 182-187, 1995.
  13. Roberto Maass-Moreno, Damianou C. "Noninvasive temperature estimation in tissue via ultrasound echo shifts. Part I: Analytical model", Journal of Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 100, pp. 2414-2521, 1996.
  14. Roberto Maass-Moreno, Damianou C., and Narendra T. Sanghvi "Noninvasive temperature estimation in tissue via ultrasound echo shifts. Part II: in vitro study", Journal of Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 100, pp. 2522-2530, 1996.
  15. Damianou C., Sanghvi N., Fry F., Maass R., "Dependence of Ultrasonic attenuation and  absorption  in dog soft tissues on  temperature and thermal dose", Journal of Acoustical Society of America, Vol. 102(2), pp. 628-634, 1997.
  16. C.  Damianou, "MR gradient echo signal intensity sensitivity to temperature for rabbit and dog tissues in vitro", Cyprus Journal of Science and technology, Vol. 3 (1), pp. 95-106, 2000.
  17. C. Damianou, "In vitro and in vivo ablation of porcine renal tissues using High Intensity focused Ultrasound", Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology, Vol. 29 (9), pp. 1321-1330, 2003
  18. C. Damianou, M. Pavlou, O. Velev, K. Kyriakou, M. Trimikliniotis ‘High intensity focused ultrasound ablation of kidney guided by ΜRI’, Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology Vol. 30 (3), pp. 397-404, 2004
  19. C. Damianou “MRI monitoring of the effect of tissue interfaces in the penetration of high intensity focused ultrasound in kidney in vivo” Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology , Vol. 30 (9), pp. 1209-1215, 2004.
  20. C. Damianou, ‘MRI monitoring of ultrasonic cavitation’, The Cyprus journal of Science and Technology, Vol. 4 (1), pp. 52-62, 2004.
  21. Damianou, C., Ioannides, K., Milonas, ‘Positioning device for MRI-guided high intensity focused ultrasound system’, Computer-Assisted Radiology and Surgery, 2 (6) pp. 335-345, 2008.
  22. C. Damianou, Ioannides K., Hadjisavas V., Milonas N., Couppis A, Iosif D, ‘In vitro and in vivo brain ablation created by high intensity focused ultrasound and monitored by MRI’, IEEE Transaction on Ultrasonics, Ferroelectrics and Frequency Control, 56(6), pp. 1189-1198, 2009.
  23. Mylonas N., Ioannides K., Hadjisavvas V., Iosif D., Kyriacou P., Damianou C, ’Evaluation of fast spin echo MRI sequence for an MRI guided high intensity focused ultrasound system for in vivo rabbit liver ablation’ J. Biomedical Science and Engineering, 2010, 3, 241-246
  24. C. Damianou, Ioannides K., Hadjisavas V., Milonas N., Couppis A., D. Iosif, P. Kyriacou’ MRI monitoring of lesions created at temperature below the boiling point and of lesions created above the boiling point using High Intensity Focused ultrasound’, J. Biomedical Science and Engineering, 3, 763-775, 2010.
  25. Hadjisavvas V., Ioannides K., Komodromos M., Mylonas N., Damianou C., ‘Evaluation of the contrast between tissues and thermal lesions in rabbit in vivo produced by high intensity focused ultrasound using fast spin echo MRI sequences’, J. Biomedical Science and Engineering, 4, 51-61, 2010.
  26. Couppis A., Damianou C., Kyriakou P., Lafon C., Chavrier F., Chapelon JYy, Birer A.’Heart ablation using a planar rectangular high intensity ultrasound transducer and MRI guidance’, Ultrasonics, 52, 821-829, 2012.
  27. Yiallouras C., Mylonas N., Damianou C. ‘MR compatible positioning device for guiding a Focused ultrasound system for transrectal treatment of prostate cancer’, Computer-Assisted Radiology and Surgery, Vol. 4,Page 745-753, 2014. DOI 10.1007/s11548-013-0964-x 2013.
  28. Damianou C., Christofi C., Mylonas N., Simulation of the Thermal and Mechanical Effects of a Planar Rectangular High Intensity Ultrasound Transducer to Be Used for Destroying Atherosclerotic Plaque Engineering, 2013, 5, 347-351, http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/eng.2013.510B070.
  29. Mylonas N., Damianou C. ‘A Prototype MR Compatible Positioning Device for Guiding a Focused Ultrasound System for the Treatment of Abdominal and Thyroid Cancer, International Journal of monitoring and surveillance technologies research, October-December, Vol.1 (4), pp. 48-61, 2013.
  30. Damianou C., Mylonas N., Ioannides K., ‘Sonothromblysis in Combination with Thrombolytic Drugs in a Rabbit Model Using MRI-Guidance’, Engineering, 2013, 5, 352-356, http://dx.doi.org/10.4236/eng.2013.510B071
  31. Damianou C., Hadjisavvas V., Ioannides K., ‘In vitro and in vivo evaluation of an MRI-guided focused ultrasound system for dissolving clots in combination with thrombolytic drugs’, J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2014 Aug;23(7):1956-64. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2014.01.028..
  32. Mylonas, N. and Damianou, C.,  MR compatible positioning device for guiding a focused ultrasound system for the treatment of brain diseases. Int. J. Med. Robotics Comput. Assist. Surg., 2014 Mar;10(1):1-10. doi: 10.1002/rcs.1501. Epub 2013 Jun 7.
  33. Damianou C., Hadjisavvas V., Mylonas N., Couppis, A., Ioannides K., ‘MRI-Guided Sonothrombolysis of Rabbit Carotid Artery’, Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Vol 23 (2), pp. e113-21, 2014.
  34. Yiallouras C., Damianou C., ’Review of MRI positioning devices for guiding focused ultrasound systems’, Int J Med Robotics Comput Assist Surg, 11 (2); (2014), Published online in Wiley Online Library (wileyonlinelibrary.com) DOI: 10.1002/rcs.1601.
  35. Menikou G, Dadakova T, Pavlina M, Bock M, Damianou C., MRI compatible head phantom for ultrasound surgery. Ultrasonics. 2015, Mar; 57:144-52. doi: 10.1016/j.ultras.2014.11.004. Epub 2014 Nov 20.
  36. Damianou C., Christofi C., Mylonas N., ‘Removing atherosclerotic plaque created using high cholesterol diet in rabbit using ultrasound’, Journal of Therapeutic Ultrasound, (2015) 3:3, DOI 10.1186/s40349-015-0025-8. 
  37. Yiallouras C., Ioannides C., Dadakova T., Pavlina M., Bock M., Damianou C., ‘Three axis MR conditional robot for high intensity focused ultrasound for treating prostate diseases’, Journal of Therapeutic Ultrasound, 2015, 3:2, DOI 10.1186/s40349-014-0023-2.
  38. Epaminonda E, Drakos T, Kalogirou C, Theodoulou M, Yiallouras C, Damianou C.,  MRI guided focused ultrasound robotic system for the treatment of gynaecological tumors, Int J Med Robot. 2016 Mar; 12 (1):46-52. doi: 10.1002/rcs.1653
  39. Yiannakou M, Trimikliniotis M, Yiallouras C, Damianou C. Evaluation of focused ultrasound algorithms: Issues for reducing pre-focal heating and treatment time. Ultrasonics. 65 (2016), pp. 145-153. doi: 10.1016/j.ultras.2015.10.007.
  40. Sagias G., Yiallouras C., Ioannides K., Damianou C., An MRI-conditional motion phantom for the evaluation of high-intensity focused ultrasound protocols, Int J Med Robot. 2016 Sep;12(3):431-41. doi: 10.1002/rcs.1709. Epub 2015 Sep 29.
  41. C. Damianou, A. Couppis, ‘Feasibility study for removing calcified material using a planar rectangular ultrasound transducer, Journal of Ultrasound, 19 (2), pp 115-123, 2016. Doi: 10.1007/s40477-015-0191-0
  42. N. Papadopoulos, C. Damianou, ‘In vitro evaluation of focused ultrasound enhanced TNK-TPA mediated thrombolysis’ Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, ;25(8):1864-77, 2016. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2016.03.051
  43. G. Menikou, C. Yiallouras, M. Yiannakou, C. Damianou, ‘MRI guided Focused Ultrasound Robotic System for the Treatment of bone cancer’, Int J Med Robotics Comput Assist Surg 2017; 13: e1753.
  44. Menikou G., Yiannakou M., Yiallouras C., Ioannides C., Damianou C., ‘MRI-compatible bone phantom for evaluating ultrasonic thermal exposures’, Ultrasonics. 2016 Sep;71:12-9. doi: 10.1016/j.ultras.2016.05.020.
  45. N. Papadopoulos, C. Yiallouras, C. Damianou, The enhancing effect of focused ultrasound on TNK- Tissue Plasminogen Activator induced thrombolysis using an in vitro circulating flow model", J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis. 2016 Dec; 25(12):2891-2899. doi: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2016.07.052.
  46.  E. Dall’Ara,M. Boudiffa ,C. Taylor, D. Schug, E. Fiegle, A.J. Kennerley, C. Damianou, G.M. Tozer, F. Kiessling, R. Müller , Longitudinal Imaging of the Ageing Mouse, Mech Ageing Dev. 2016 Dec;160:93-116. doi: 10.1016/j.mad.2016.08.001.
  47. C. Damianou, M. Yiannakou, G. Menikou, C. Yiallouras, ‘MRI guided coupling for a Focused Ultrasound system using a top to bottom propagation’, Journal of Therapeutic Ultrasound, 5(1), 6.  doi: 10.1186/s40349-017-0087-x  
  48. N. Papadopoulos, G. Menikou, M. Yiannakou, C. Yiallouras, K. Ioannides, C. Damianou, ‘Evaluation of a small flat rectangular therapeutic ultrasonic transducer intended for intravascular use’, Ultrasonics 74 (2016), 196–203. doi: 10.1016/j.ultras.2016.10.014
  49. N. Papadopoulos, C. Damianou, ‘Microbubble-based sonothrombolysis using a planar rectangular ultrasonic transducer’, Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 26 (6), 1287-1296, 2017.
  50. M. Yiannakou, G. Menikou C. Yiallouras, K. Ioannides, C. Damianou, MRI guided focused ultrasound robotic system for animal experiments, the International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery, 13(4), e1804 2017. DOI: 10.1002/rcs.1804 
  51. G. Menikou, C. Damianou, ‘Acoustic and thermal characterization of agar based phantoms used for evaluating focused ultrasound exposures’, Journal of Therapeutic Ultrasound  (2017) 5:14. doi: 10.1186/s40349-017-0093-z 
  52. T. Alecou, M. Yiannakou, C. Damianou, ‘Amyloid beta plaque reduction with antibodies crossing the blood brain barrier opened in 3 sessions with focused ultrasound in a rabbit model’, Journal of ultrasound in medicine 36 (11), 2257-2270, 2017. doi: 10.1002/jum.14256 
  53. G. Menikou, M. Yiannakou, C. Yiallouras, C. Ioannides, C. Damianou, ‘MRI-compatible breast/rib phantom for evaluating ultrasonic thermal exposures’, The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery 14(1), 2017. DOI: 10.1002/rcs.1849 
  54. N. Papadopoulos, C. Damianou, ‘Microbubble-based sonothrombolysis using a planar rectangular ultrasonic transducer’, Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, 26 (6), 2017. DOI: 10.1016/j.jstrokecerebrovasdis.2017.01.023 
  55. C. Yiallouras, G. Menikou, M. Yiannakou, C. Damianou, ‘Software that controls a magnetic resonance imaging compatible robotic system for guiding high-intensity focused ultrasound therapy, Digital Medicine, 3(3), 123-132 July-September 2017 DOI: 10.4103/digm.digm_19_17 
  56. C. Yiallouras, M. Yiannakou, G. Menikou, C. Damianou, A multipurpose positioning device for magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound surgery, Digital Medicine, 3(3), 138-144 July-September 2017. DOI: 10.4103/digm.digm_33_17
  57. C. Damianou, M. Yiannakou, C. Yiallouras, G. Menikou, ‘The role of 3-D printing in MRI guided focused ultrasound surgery’, Digital Medicine, 4(1), 22-26, 2018.
  58. Giannakou M, Yiallouras C, Menikou G, Ioannides C, Damianou C. MRI‐guided frameless biopsy robotic system with the inclusion of unfocused ultrasound transducer for brain cancer ablation. Int J Med Robotics Comput Assist Surg. 2019; 15: e1951. https://doi.org/10.1002/rcs.1951 
  59. Drakos T, Giannakou M, Menikou G, Ioannides C, Damianou C, ‘An improved method to estimate ultrasonic absorption in agar-based gel phantom using thermocouples and MR thermometry’. Ultrasonics. 2020,  Jan 31;103:106089. doi: 10.1016/j.ultras.2020.106089 
  60.  Christakis Damianou, Marinos Giannakou, Nikolas Evripidou, Stefan Kege, Peter Huber, Juergen Jenne, ‘Focused ultrasound robotic system for very small bore magnetic resonance imaging’, Int J Med Robotics Comput Assist Surg, 16 (6), DOI: 10.1002/rcs.2165, 2020. 
  61. Theoharis Drakos, Marinos Giannakou, Georgios Menikou, Christakis Damianou, ‘MRI-guided focused ultrasound positioning system for preclinical studies in small animals’ J Ultrasound Med 2020; 9999:1–10. doi:10.1002/jum.15514. 
  62. M Giannakou, G Menikou, K Ioannides, C Damianou, Magnetic resonance image-guided focused ultrasound robotic system with four computer-controlled axes with endorectal access designed for prostate cancer focal therapy Digital Medicine 6 (1), 32 
  63. C Damianou, M Giannakou, G Menikou, L Ioannou, Magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound robotic system with the subject placed in the prone position, Digital Medicine 6 (1), 24. 
  64. Theocharis Drakos Marinos Giannakou Georgios Menikou Georgios Constantinides Christakis Damianou, ‘Characterization of a soft tissue-mimicking agar/wood powder material for MRgFUS applications’, Ultrasonics, Volume 113, May 2021, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultras.2021.106357. 
  65. T Drakos; M Giannakou; G Menikou; A Filippou; N Evripidou; K Spanoudes; L Ioannou; C Damianou, MRI-Guided Focused Ultrasound Robotic System for Preclinical use, J Vet Med Animal Sci. 2020; 4(1): 1049. 
  66. Anastasia Antoniou, Nikolas Evripidou, Marinos Giannakou, Georgios Constantinides, Christakis Damianou, ‘Acoustical properties of 3D printed thermoplastics’, Journal of acoustical society of America (JASA), 2021, 149 (4). https://doi.org/10.1121/10.0004772 
  67. Anastasia Antoniou, Theocharis Drakos, Marinos Giannakou, Nikolas Evripidou, Leonidas Georgiou, Theodora Christodoulou, Natalie Panayiotou, Cleanthis Ioannides, Nikolaos Zamboglou, Christakis Damianou, ‘Simple methods to test the accuracy of MRgFUS robotic systems’, Int J Med Robot. 2021;e2287, https://doi.org/10.1002/rcs.2287. 
  68. Anastasia Antoniou, Marinos Giannakou, Nikolas Evripidou, Georgios Evripidou,  Kyriakos Spanoudes, Georgios Menikou, Christakis Damianou, ‘Robotic system for magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound ablation of abdominal cancer’, Int J Med Robotics Comput Assist Surg, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/rcs.2299. 
  69. Spanoudes K, Evripidou N, Giannakou M, Drakos T, Menikou G, Damianou C. A high intensity focused ultrasound system for veterinary oncology applications. J Med Ultrasound 2021; 29(3):195-202, DOI: 10.4103/JMU.JMU_130_20. 
  70. Panayiota Karanicola, Maria Patsalou, Panagiota-Yiolanda Stergiou, Alexandra Kavallieratou, Nikolas Evripidou, Panagiotis Christou, George, Panagiotou, Christakis Damianou, Emmanuel M. Papamichael, Michalis, Koutinas, ‘Ultrasound-assisted dilute acid hydrolysis for production of essential oils, pectin and bacterial cellulose via a citrus processing waste biorefinery’, Bioresource Technology, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2021.126010 
  71. Anastasia Antoniou, Christakis Damianou, Review of MR relaxation properties of tissue-mimicking phantoms, Ultrasonics, Volume 119, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultras.2021.106600. 
  72. Antria Filippou, Christakis Damianou, Evaluation of ultrasonic scattering in agar‑based phantoms using 3D printed scattering molds, Journal of Ultrasound, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-021-00630-7 
  73. Anastasia Antoniou,Marinos Giannakou,Nikolas Evripidou,Stylianos Stratis,Samuel Pichardo,Christakis Damianou, Robotic system for top to bottom MRgFUS therapy of multiple cancer types, , Int J Med Robotics Comput Assist Surg https://doi.org/10.1002/rcs.2364 
  74. Anastasia Antoniou, Leonidas Georgiou, Theodora Christodoulou, Natalie Panayiotou, Cleanthis Ioannides, Nikolaos Zamboglou, Christakis Damianou, MR relaxation times of agar-based tissue mimicking phantoms, Journal of Applied Clinical Medical Physics, Vol. 23 (5), 2022. DOI10.1002/acm2.13533. 
  75. Michalis Sotiriou, Marinos Giannakou, Christakis Damianou, ‘Investigating atherosclerotic plaque phantoms for ultrasound therapy’, Journal of Ultrasound, Vol 25 (3), 709-720, https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-022-00658-3. 
  76. Filippou, A., Damianou, C. Experimental evaluation of high intensity focused ultrasound for fat reduction of ex vivo porcine adipose tissue. J Ultrasound (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-022-00663-6. 
  77. Antria Filippou, Christakis Damianou, ‘Ultrasonic attenuation of canine mammary tumours,’ Ultrasonics, Volume 125, 2022, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ultras.2022.106798.
  78. Antoniou A, Giannakou M, Georgiou E, Kleopa KA, Damianou C. Robotic device for transcranial focussed ultrasound applications in small animal models. Int J Med Robot. 2022 Aug 3:e2447. doi: 10.1002/rcs.2447. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35924335 
  79. Marinos Giannakou; Anastasia Antoniou; Christakis Damianou, ‘Preclinical robotic device for magnetic resonance imaging guided focussed ultrasound’, The International Journal of Medical Robotics and Computer Assisted Surgery, 2022-10, DOI: 10.1002/rcs.2466 
  80. A Antoniou, C Damianou, ‘Simple, inexpensive, and ergonomic phantom for quality assurance control of MRI guided Focused Ultrasound systems’, Journal of Ultrasound, 2022.  DOI10.1007/s40477-022-00740-w 
  81. T Drakos, G Evripidou, C Damianou, ‘An in vitro model for experimental evaluation of sonothrombolysis under tissue-mimicking material conditions’, Journal of Medical Ultrasound, 2022. 
  82. Antoniou, Anastasia, Georgiou, Leonidas, Evripidou, Nikolas. Ioannides, Cleanthis, Damianou, Christakis, ‘Challenges regarding MR compatibility of an MRgFUS robotic system’, Journal of Magnetic Resonance, doi: 10.1016/j.jmr.2022.107317 
  83. Filippou, Antria, Evripidou, Nikolas, Damianou, Christakis, 'Robotic system for magnetic resonance imaging-guided focused ultrasound treatment of thyroid nodules', The Int J Med Robot, https://doi.org/10.1002/rcs.2525 
  84. Antoniou, A. Nikolaou, A., Georgiou, A, Evripidou, N, Damianou, C, ‘Development of an US, MRI, and CT imaging compatible realistic mouse phantom for thermal ablation and focused ultrasound evaluation’, Ultrasonics, Vol. 131. DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2023.106955 
  85. Anastasia Antoniou, Anastasia Nikolaou, Nikolas Evripidou, Andreas Georgiou, Antria Filippou, Vasiliki Zinonos, Marinos Giannakou, Antreas Chrysanthou, Cleanthis Ioannides, Christakis Damianou, ‘. Phantom-based assessment of motion and needle targeting accuracy of robotic devices for magnetic resonance imaging-guided needle biopsy’, The Int J Med Robot, https://doi.org/10.1002/rcs.2526 
  86. Antria Filippou, Andreas Georgiou, Anastasia Nikolaou, Nikolas Evripidou, Christakis Damianou, Advanced software for MRgFUS treatment planning, Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine, Volume 240, 2023, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmpb.2023.107726 
  87. Antoniou, A., Stavrou, M., Evripidou, N. et al. FUS-mediated blood–brain barrier disruption for delivering anti-Aβ antibodies in 5XFAD Alzheimer’s disease mice. J Ultrasound (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40477-023-00805-4. 
  88. Antoniou, Anastasia; Damianou, Christakis*. Feasibility of Ultrasonic Heating through Skull Phantom Using Single-element Transducer. Journal of Medical Ultrasound 32(1):p 32-40, Jan–Mar 2024. | DOI: 10.4103/jmu.jmu_3_23: 
  89.  Antoniou A, Evripidou N, Giannakou M, Damianou C. The first magnetic resonance imaging compatible 3D printer. Digit Med. 2024;  doi: 10.1097/DM-2024-00006.

People

Lead researcher
Christakis Damianou (Ph.D.)

Post docs
Anastasia Antoniou (Ph.D)

Ph.D. students
Andria Philipou
Nikolas Evripidou
Kleanthis Ioannides

Alumni
George Menikou (Ph.D.with City University London)
Nicolas Papadopoulos (Ph.D with City University London)
Christos Yiallouras (Ph.D.)
Marinos Giannakou (Ph.D)
Theoharis Drakos (Ph.D)
Andreas Georgiou (M.Sc.)
George Sayias (M.Sc.)
Kiriaki Siakou (M.Sc.)
Michalis Trimikliniotis (M.Sc. with Liverpool university)
Eva Epaminonta, (B.Sc. thesis for Cyprus University of Technology)
Margarita Theodoulou, (B.Sc. thesis for Cyprus University of Technology, internship through Focused ultrasound foundation, 2014).
Drakos Theocharis, (B.Sc. thesis for Cyprus University of Technology)
Christina Kalogirou (B.Sc. thesis for Cyprus University of Technology)
Constantinos Psillis (internship through Focused ultrasound foundation, 2015)
Theocharous Irodotos (internship through Focused ultrasound foundation, 2015)

/Therapeutic Ultrasound/Prostasonic

PROSTASONIC
Prostate cancer ablation with a 4D robotic system using thermal ultrasonic waves under MRI guidance. ENTERPRISES/0918/0012


 PARTNERS
MEDSONIC LTD
Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)
Ygia Polyclinic


 Duration
2019-2021

 

SUMMARY
PROSTASONIC addresses the major social challenge of treatment of prostate cancer using magnetic resonance guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS). The goal is to produce an advanced prototype robotic system with 4 degrees of freedom (DOF) that can ablate prostate tissue using MRgFUS. The intended application is to use this system for focal ablation of prostate cancer. The tissue heating can be accurately monitored using MR thermometry. The proposed single element transducer will be compact (around 20 mm in diameter) and will operate with a frequency close to 3 MHz. A software will be developed that will control this medical device. The system will be evaluated in phantoms, excised tissue and animals. With the proposed disrupting technology, we hope to change the culture of prostate cancer therapies. This system can be applied in the future for other prostate applications (for example Benign prostate hyperplasia).

Therapeutic Ultrasound/Fusrobot

Fusrobot

FUSROBOT
MRI-guided Focused UltraSound robotic system for preclinical research. ENTERPRISES/0618/0016


 PARTNERS
MEDSONIC LTD
Cyprus University of Technology (CUT)
Ygia Polyclinic


 Duration
2019-2021


 SUMMARY
FUSROBOT’s main goal is to produce an MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) robotic system for preclinical use of small and large animals. MRgFUS is becoming a very hot and attractive non-invasive modality for oncology (cancer), and neurology (Parkinson). Therefore, the number of research institutions involved in this area is growing rapidly. There is urgent need for these research institutions for affordable and functional preclinical MRgFUS robotic systems in order to explore new applications in MRgFUS.  The goal is to produce a preclinical robotic system (final product) with 4 degrees of freedom (DOF) that can sonicate phantoms, excised tissue or animals using MRgFUS. The tissue heating can be accurately monitored using MR thermometry. The ultrasonic system will include a single element transducer (ranging from 20-60 mm in diameter) and will operate with a frequency ranging from 0.5 to 4 MHz. A software will be developed that will control this medical device. The system will be evaluated in phantoms, excised tissue and animals. By the end of the program all the necessary documents for patent application will be ready. 

Therapeutic Ultrasound/SOUNDPET

SOUNDPET

SOUNDPET’s main goal is to develop an MRI-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) robotic system for preclinical use of small and large animals. The final product will be applied in pets (dogs and cats) with naturally occurring mammary cancer.  The goal is to produce a preclinical robotic system (final product) with 4 degrees of freedom (DOF) that can sonicate phantoms, excised tissue and animals using MRgFUS. The tissue heating can be accurately monitored using MR thermometry. The ultrasonic system will include a single element transducer (ranging from 20-60 mm in diameter) and will operate with a frequency ranging from 0.5 to 4 MHz. A software will be developed that will control this medical device. The system will be evaluated in phantoms, excised tissue and animals. The same mechanisms that result in cancer in humans are operative in pets and are operative in other animals as well. Man’s best friend is probably man’s best new biomedical friend.

This system can be modified in the future for use in humans by scaling up the design of the robotic system. 

The proposed technology intends to serve the community of non-invasive surgery using therapeutic ultrasound and MRI guidance for veterinary applications. The long term goal is to commercialize this technology (by the end of the project it will be in the state of final product). Since the device is applied in animals, there is no need to receive regulatory approvals (for example CE marking).

Total budget of the project:

1 million euros.

 

Consortium

Cyprus University of Technology

MEDSONIC

German Oncology Center and

 the department of Cyprus Electromechanical services. 

 

Duration

The project started July 2020 and will be completed June 2023.

 

The project is funded by the Research Promotion foundation of Cyprus under the project SOUNDPET (INTEGRATED/0918/0008).

 

 

 

Renewable Energy Research

Mission

The Renewable Energy Research Laboratory was founded in September of 2011 with a mission to investigate and research Renewable Energy Systems (RES) as an alternative energy source. Its main areas include Renewable Energy and Sustainable Systems, Geothermal energy Systems, Hybrid Renewable Systems and Energy Storage. Head of the Lab is Assistant Professor Paul Christodoulides with its base in Cyprus University of Technology in Limassol, Cyprus.

Our aims include:

  1. Introduce and further analyze Ground Source Heat Pump Systems in moderate climate, such as in Cyprus
  2. Determine Ground Thermal Characteristics of different soil and area in Cyprus with the overall aim to generate a geothermal map of Cyprus
  3.  Computational modelling, Numerical modeling techniques are used, including the use of transient simulations and artificial intelligence techniques, to model Ground Heat Exchanges, Energy Systems and ground thermal characteristics.
  4. To perform building load analysis and examine measures towards a Zero Energy Building using RES.
  5. Examine the economic aspect and viability of RES in moderate climate

Research

·          2019/23 Research network for including Geothermal technologies into Decarbonized Heating and Cooling grids Geothermal-DHC, COST Action CA18219, (MC Cyprus) 150K/year

·          2015/19 Industrial Thermal Energy Recovery Conversion and Management I-ThERM, H2020-EE-2015-1-PPP, European Union, (CUT coordinator) 4M (145K)

·          2015/19 European network for shallow geothermal energy applications in buildings and infrastructures GABI, Transport and Urban Development COST Action TU1405, 150K/year

·          2012/14 Investigation and determination of the geothermal parameters of the lithologies in Cyprus, for the compilation of the geothermal map of the island, Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation, Cyprus, (coordinator) 95K

·          2008/10 Investigation and determination of the geothermal parameters of the ground in Cyprus, for use in the design of ground heat exchangers and heat pumps, Technology/Energy / 0308(ΒΙΕ)/15, co-funded by the Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation (RPF) and the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), (coordinator) 150k

Collaborations

o     Brunel University, West London

o     Geological Survey Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development and Environment, Lefkosia, Cyprus

o     Cyprus Energy Service, Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism

People

·          Paul Christodoulides, Assistant Professor

·          Georgios Florides, Adjunct Professor

·          Gregoris P. Panayiotou, Research Fellow

·          Lazaros G. Aresti, Research Fellow

·          Maria C. Argyrou, Research Fellow

·          Giorgos S Georgiou, Research Fellow

·          Christos Christou, PhD student

Facilities

Our Laboratory/ Research facility is based and operated in the Cyprus University of Technology. Our Lavatory owns a variety of equipment including thermal conductivity devices by Hukseflux and Isomet with both needle probes and surface probes. But mostly our team focuses on Computational and Numerical modelling using our expertise in the selected available software (with educational license): COMSOL Multiphysics, Matlab, TRNSYS, Flex PDE, GLD, Solidworks and Autocad.

Most of the measurements or the Ground Heat Exchangers (GHEs) are made in the fields, using the known method of Thermal Response Testing (TRT) with a mobile test unit by injecting a constant power (heat) into the ground and measuring the inlet and outlet temperature of the tubes.