Optical Tissue Discrimination via Bile Concentration Spectrometry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current surgical methods lack a simple and reliable means to accurately discriminate between different tissue types, such as bile ducts, blood vessels, and tumor tissue, particularly in early-stage liver cancer, which can lead to incorrect treatment locations during surgeries like cholecystectomies.

Innovation Solution

An optical analysis apparatus comprising a spectrometer with a light source and detector, capable of determining the concentration of bile in tissue, which serves as a discriminative feature for tissue type identification, using measured optical spectra and a processor to calculate parameters indicative of tissue type.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional surgical methods are used to discriminate tissue types, then the surgical procedure can be performed, but the discrimination between tissue types (bile ducts, blood vessels, tumor tissue) is insufficient and unreliable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue type discrimination reliabilityVSAvoidtissue type identification precision

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces conventional mechanical visual inspection and manual tissue discrimination with an optical measurement system. A spectrometer measures the optical spectrum of tissue, and a processor analyzes the spectrum to determine tissue type based on characteristic spectral features, particularly bile concentration. This substitution of mechanical discrimination with optical measurement significantly improves both reliability and precision of tissue identification.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces bile concentration as an intermediary parameter to facilitate tissue type discrimination. By measuring the optical spectrum and extracting bile concentration information, the system creates an intermediate quantitative metric that reliably indicates tissue type (bile duct, blood vessel, tumor, or normal tissue), enabling more accurate discrimination than direct visual inspection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If blood content differences are used to discriminate tissue structures, then some discrimination is possible, but the discrimination is not sufficient for early stage liver cancer and certain tissue structures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue structure discrimination reliabilityVSAvoidtissue type information

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the measurement parameter from blood content (which has limited discriminatory power) to bile concentration (which provides superior discrimination). By measuring optical absorption at wavelengths sensitive to bile (particularly around 450-500 nm), the system extracts bile concentration information that clearly distinguishes bile ducts from other tissues and detects early-stage liver cancer, preventing information loss about tissue type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If a surgical drain with sensors is used to monitor tissue condition, then tissue monitoring is possible, but the system becomes rather complicated with modifications required for stabilization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetissue condition monitoring reliabilityVSAvoidsurgical drain system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the optical measurement function from the surgical drain system. Instead of modifying the surgical drain with multiple sensors and stabilization mechanisms, the invention uses a separate, dedicated spectrometer and processor system that can be applied to tissue without complicating the surgical drain. This separation simplifies the overall system while maintaining reliable tissue monitoring capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables accurate and reliable discrimination between tissue types, providing real-time feedback for precise surgical interventions and improving treatment efficacy by using bile concentration as a discriminative feature, thereby preventing injuries and ensuring correct treatment locations.

Implementation Method 1

a spectrometer for obtaining measured data representative of an optical spectrum of the associated tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical absorption: Absorption (EM radiation)

Implementation Method 2

obtaining measured data representative of an optical spectrum of the associated tissue

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLight scattering: Scattering

Data Source

PatentUS10105057B2Apparatus for optical analysis of an associated tissue

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS NV

AI summary

The present invention relates to an apparatus 100 and, a method and a computer program for determining a parameter indicative of a tissue type of an associated tissue 116. In particular, the invention relates to an apparatus 100 comprising a spectrometer 102, which spectrometer comprises a light source 104 and a detector 106, 108 arranged to measure an optical spectrum. This enables determination of a first parameter being indicative of a bile concentration. As the inventors of the present invention have made the insight that bile concentration may serve as a discriminative feature for different tissue types, the apparatus is arranged to determine a second parameter indicative of a tissue type based on a concentration of bile. According to a specific embodiment, the apparatus further comprises an interventional device 112.