# Smart template for prostate biopsy guidance

> **NIH NIH R44** · PHYSICAL SCIENCES, INC · 2020 · $584,624

## Abstract

Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI), in collaboration with the Department of Radiology at Brigham and Women’s
Hospital (BWH), proposes to develop a double-action Smart Template to aid transperineal targeted prostate
biopsies and subsequent focal therapy procedures performed under magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-
guidance. Despite the high sensitivity in identifying prostate cancer with MRI imaging, inaccurate placement of
the biopsy needle into the MRI highlighted area of the organ often fails to confirm cancer presence and leads
to repeated costly biopsies and potentially delayed treatment. The PSI/BWH team has developed a passive
grid Smart Template technology that enables accurate insertion of the biopsy needle and positioning into a
suspicious prostate cancer tissue. Its clinical efficacy has already been demonstrated in multiple patients. This
technology however requires further improvement, advanced engineering, and clinical evaluation to support
commercialization. In this Fast-Track program we propose to further advance the technology by eliminating the
passive grid, enabling countless entry points, and automated positioning and angulation of the needle. The
angled insertion will enable avoidance of the perineal structures such as scar tissue and other areas that cause
deflection of biopsy needle. Patient movement during the biopsy procedures will also be monitored, and the
biopsy needle trajectory will be corrected using a custom algorithm for the accurate biopsy needle
displacement to the target cancer lesion. The double-action Smart Template will be first evaluated and
optimized in perineal animal models, and then its efficacy will be tested in vivo in human patients utilizing a 3T
MRI scanner at BWH.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10000931
- **Project number:** 5R44CA224853-03
- **Recipient organization:** PHYSICAL SCIENCES, INC
- **Principal Investigator:** Jesung Park
- **Activity code:** R44 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $584,624
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-09-01 → 2023-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10000931

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10000931, Smart template for prostate biopsy guidance (5R44CA224853-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10000931. Licensed CC0.

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