Multispectral Breast Margin Imaging for Real-Time Surgical Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting breast cancer margin during surgery are invasive, time-consuming, and lack specificity, leading to inaccurate results and the need for repeat surgeries, especially in resource-limited settings.
Innovation Solution
A non-invasive, cost-effective system using Terahertz and fluorescence spectroscopy with artificial intelligence for real-time detection of breast cancer margin, combining Terahertz radiation to analyze structural changes and fluorescence to detect metabolic alterations, providing high specificity and sensitivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If histopathology assessment is used for breast cancer margin detection, then accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases (2-7 days)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary fluorescence labeling of cancerous cells before surgery. The fluorescent markers are pre-administered to patients, allowing cancer cells to be tagged in advance. During surgery, these pre-labeled cells can be immediately detected using fluorescence imaging, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-surgery histopathology processing while maintaining high detection accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical histopathology process (fixation, sectioning, staining, microscopic examination) with an optical detection system. Fluorescence imaging using handheld probes or intraoperative imaging systems allows real-time visualization of cancer margins without requiring physical tissue processing, thereby dramatically reducing detection time from days to minutes.
2Speed
If frozen sectioning is used for intraoperative margin assessment, then detection speed is improved, but tissue damage and artifacts increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the freezing and sectioning mechanical process with optical fluorescence detection. Since cancer cells have been pre-labeled with fluorescent markers, they can be detected in the intact tissue during surgery using fluorescence imaging, completely avoiding the tissue damage and artifacts caused by freezing and sectioning while maintaining rapid intraoperative detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces fluorescent markers as an intermediary substance that binds to cancer cells. These markers serve as a mediator between the cancer cells and the detection system, allowing indirect but non-invasive detection of cancer margins through fluorescence imaging without requiring physical manipulation or freezing of the tissue.
3Ease of operation
If Margin Probe or ClearEdge devices are used, then electrical property-based detection is improved, but sensitivity and specificity decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the detection parameter from electrical properties (conductivity, impedance) to optical properties (fluorescence emission). By detecting the fluorescent signal emitted by cancer cells rather than their electrical properties, the system achieves both ease of handheld operation and high sensitivity/specificity, as fluorescence provides direct molecular-level detection of cancer cells.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes fluorescence emission (color change) as the detection mechanism. Cancer cells labeled with fluorescent markers emit specific wavelengths of light when excited, providing visual color-based differentiation between cancerous and normal tissue. This optical approach maintains the ease of handheld probe operation while dramatically improving sensitivity and specificity compared to electrical property-based methods.
4Ease of operation
If Breast Conservation Surgery is performed, then cosmetic outcome and recovery are improved, but recurrence risk increases due to inaccurate margin detection
Solution Approach 1:
The patent provides real-time fluorescence feedback during breast conservation surgery. The handheld fluorescent probe or intraoperative imaging system continuously monitors the surgical margins, allowing the surgeon to immediately see whether cancer cells are present at the resection boundaries. This real-time feedback enables precise adjustment of resection margins to ensure complete cancer removal while preserving as much healthy tissue as possible, thereby maintaining both cosmetic outcomes and preventing recurrence.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary fluorescence labeling of cancer cells before surgery, enabling accurate margin assessment during breast conservation surgery. This preliminary action ensures that even with conservative resection, all cancer cells are completely removed as indicated by the fluorescence signal, thereby preventing recurrence while maintaining the cosmetic and recovery benefits of breast conservation.
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
The system achieves rapid, accurate detection of breast cancer margin with 85-93% accuracy and 90-95% specificity, enabling surgeons to make informed decisions during surgery, reducing the need for repeat surgeries and improving patient outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
employing Terahertz and Fluorescence radiations and spectroscopic analysis
Implementation Method 2
employing Terahertz and Fluorescence radiations and spectroscopic analysis
Data Source
AI summary
The disclosure discloses a multispectral imaging system and method for real time detection of breast cancer margin during a tumor resection surgery by combining terahertz and autofluorescence images. The system comprises terahertz and fluorescence modules in a housing having a sample holder to enable raster scan of the sample. The terahertz module has terahertz emitter antennas for generating terahertz radiation to the sample, and a terahertz detector to receive reflected terahertz signal from the sample. A fluorescence module with UV excitation LEDs induces fluorescence and a camera to receive emitted autofluorescence. A microcontroller connected to an electronic control unit is configured to display or to overlap and combine terahertz and autofluorescence images to determine breast cancer margin, via an AI module. The AI module is configured to perform classification of the feature set machine learning models to obtain classification with high with high sensitivity and specificity.