Bimodal Probe With Elastography for Pituitary Adenoma Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current imaging technologies, such as MRI, struggle to accurately visualize small pituitary adenomas, particularly those secreting ACTH, due to their small size, making complete surgical excision challenging and risking postoperative pituitary insufficiency when adenomas are not visible.
Innovation Solution
A bimodal diagnostic probe that integrates ultrasound and optical modalities, allowing simultaneous detection and resection of adenomas by superimposing ultrasonic elastographic information onto optical images, with a movable part for adjusting the position of ultrasound transducers and a mechanical pressure sensor to ensure precise tissue contact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If MRI is used to locate adenomas, then the location of visible adenomas can be identified, but small secreting adenomas cannot be visualized due to their small size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines optical imaging (endoscopy) with ultrasound imaging into a single bimodal probe system. The optical component provides high-resolution surface visualization while the ultrasound component penetrates deeper into tissue to detect small adenomas based on elastographic properties, thereby merging the strengths of both modalities to overcome the size limitation of MRI alone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes elastography, which measures tissue stiffness (mechanical property) rather than just anatomical structure. Adenomatous tissue has different elastographic properties (stiffness between 0.1-0.2 kPa) compared to healthy pituitary tissue (approximately 10 kPa), allowing detection of small adenomas that are invisible to conventional MRI by detecting these mechanical parameter differences.
2Reliability
If total hypophysectomy is performed when adenoma is not visible on MRI, then complete adenoma removal is achieved, but postoperative pituitary insufficiency occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The bimodal probe provides real-time intraoperative feedback by displaying superimposed optical and ultrasound images with elastographic information. This allows the surgeon to continuously monitor adenoma location and boundaries during resection, providing feedback that guides precise removal while preserving healthy tissue, thereby avoiding both incomplete resection and unnecessary removal of healthy pituitary tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The probe enables preliminary identification and mapping of adenoma location and extent before resection begins. By visualizing the adenoma's precise boundaries through elastographic imaging, the surgeon can plan the resection pathway in advance to achieve complete removal while preserving healthy tissue, preventing both insufficiency and incomplete cure.
3Loss of information
If MRI and endoscopic images are used separately, then both imaging modalities provide useful information, but they cannot be superimposed making gland exploration challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent physically integrates optical and ultrasound transducers into a single bimodal probe, and digitally merges their respective images into a superimposed display. The optical image provides surface anatomy reference while the ultrasound elastographic image shows deep tissue adenoma location, with both images registered to the same coordinate system, allowing simultaneous visualization without information loss and greatly facilitating gland exploration.
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 real-time, precise localization and excision of adenomas by distinguishing pathological from healthy tissue, guiding surgical resection to avoid damaging healthy pituitary tissue, and ensuring complete adenoma removal.
Implementation Method 1
at least one ultrasound device comprising an array of ultrasound transducers, said array of ultrasound transducers being controlled to emit ultrasound signals towards the tissues to be examined and to convert the reflected ultrasound signals into electrical signals
Implementation Method 2
the optical device also comprising at least one sensor for capturing the light signals scattered by the tissues
Data Source
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Figure 2A~2D
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AI summary
The invention relates to a bimodal diagnostic probe (1) used to examine biological tissues, said probe (1) comprising: - A body (12) having an elongated shape along a longitudinal axis (X), - The body having a distal part (11) intended to come as close as possible to the tissues to be examined, - At least one ultrasonic device (4) comprising an array of ultrasonic transducers (40), said array of ultrasonic transducers (40) being controlled to emit ultrasonic signals towards the tissues to be examined and to convert the reflected ultrasonic signals into electrical signals, - At least one optical device (3) comprising a light source, said at least one light source being controlled to emit a light beam (30) towards the tissues to be examined, the optical device also comprising at least one sensor for capturing the light signals scattered by the tissues.