Bi-spectral Optical Probe for Fluorescence and Visible Illumination
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intraoperative optical probes for surgeons require constant switching between a computer screen and the operating area, making it difficult to precisely identify and remove diseased cells due to lack of visible illumination of surgical instruments and unmarked areas in fluorescent light.
Innovation Solution
The optical probe employs double illumination: one wavelength for fluorescence imaging and another in visible light to highlight marked areas, allowing the surgeon to directly see diseased tissues and maintain visual comfort without needing to constantly refer to the screen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If fluorescence imaging is used to detect diseased areas, then detection precision is improved, but visual comfort and ease of operation deteriorate because the surgeon must constantly switch between the screen and the operating area
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fluorescence imaging and visible light illumination into a single integrated optical probe. The probe simultaneously captures fluorescence signals from diseased tissues and provides visible light illumination of the surgical field, merging detection and visualization functions into one device. This eliminates the need for separate screens and allows the surgeon to view both fluorescent and visible information through a single imaging channel, improving ease of operation while maintaining detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical system that acts as an intermediary between the fluorescent markers and the surgeon's visual system. The imaging capture device captures fluorescence signals and converts them into visible images that can be overlaid or combined with visible light illumination. This intermediary process translates the invisible fluorescent signals into visible information that the surgeon can directly observe during surgery, resolving the contradiction between detection precision and visual comfort.
2Measurement precision
If fluorescence imaging is used to detect diseased areas, then detection precision is improved, but the surgical procedure duration increases due to constant switching between screen and patient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges fluorescence detection and visible light illumination into a single integrated probe, allowing simultaneous acquisition of both signals. This eliminates the time-consuming back-and-forth switching between separate screening and surgical viewing, as the surgeon can now observe fluorescently marked diseased areas directly in the surgical field through the integrated imaging system, significantly reducing surgical procedure duration while maintaining high detection precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables continuous simultaneous operation of fluorescence imaging and visible light illumination through the integrated probe. Both detection and visualization functions operate continuously without interruption or switching, maintaining uninterrupted observation of diseased areas throughout the surgical procedure. This continuous dual-mode operation eliminates idle time and maintains surgical workflow efficiency, reducing overall procedure duration.
3Measurement precision
If only fluorescence illumination is used, then diseased areas can be detected, but unmarked areas and surgical instruments remain invisible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges fluorescence excitation illumination and visible light illumination into a single dual-function probe. The probe simultaneously emits fluorescence excitation light to detect diseased areas and visible light to illuminate unmarked tissues and surgical instruments. This combination ensures that both fluorescently marked and unmarked areas, as well as surgical instruments, are visible to the surgeon, resolving the visibility problem while maintaining diseased area detection capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal optical probe that performs multiple functions: fluorescence excitation, fluorescence signal capture, and visible light illumination of the surgical field. This multi-functional probe serves both detection purposes (visualizing diseased areas through fluorescence) and general surgical illumination purposes (making unmarked areas and instruments visible), eliminating the need for separate illumination sources and ensuring comprehensive visibility during surgery.
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
This solution enhances surgical precision, reduces intervention duration, and improves visual comfort by allowing the surgeon to directly see diseased areas in visible light, eliminating the need to constantly switch between the screen and the patient's body.
Implementation Method 1
a first light source emitting a first beam of light intended to illuminate a surface of biological tissues of which at least one zone called the marked zone has been previously fixed by a fluorescent marker, said beam being emitted at a first wavelength corresponding substantially to the excitation wavelength of the labeling fluorophore, said fluorophore emitting at a second wavelength
Implementation Method 2
a first optical device comprising a first lens and a photosensitive surface, said lens forming a first image of the surface of biological tissues on said photosensitive surface
Implementation Method 3
optical means different from the first optical device and intended to illuminate at least part of the surface of biological tissues
Data Source
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AI summary
The general field of the invention is that of intraoperative optical probes intended to assist the surgeon in their medical procedure. The fluorescence optical probes according to the invention are intended for use on living tissue where diseased areas have been marked with a fluorescent marker. They have dual illumination. The first (1, 2), located in the red or near-infrared range, is necessary to induce fluorescence in the marked areas (30) and obtain an image usable by a camera (7). The second (9, 10), located in the visible range, is necessary to illuminate the marked areas with visible light, thus facilitating the surgeon's work. The visible illumination can be either a point source or provided by an image projector. In the latter case, the projected image illuminates only the diseased areas.