Color Camera Functional Tissue Detection in Brain Surgery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for identifying functional brain tissue areas during tumor surgery near eloquent brain regions are limited by the size of electrodes, foreign tissue contact risks, and the expense and time intensity of using monochrome cameras to detect changes in physiological properties through optical imaging.
Innovation Solution
A cost-effective apparatus and method utilizing a color camera with a green and/or blue channel to detect changes in optical properties of light reflected from tissue regions during intermittent stimulation, allowing for contrast-rich imaging of functional tissue areas without the need for expensive monochrome cameras, by focusing on the wavelength ranges 400-520 nm and 470-600 nm.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a monochrome camera with high grayscale resolution and long integration time is used to detect functional tissue areas, then measurement precision is improved, but device cost and surgical time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive monochrome cameras with standard color cameras that have green and blue channels, using readily available consumer-grade or clinical color camera technology instead of specialized expensive equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the detection approach from using grayscale intensity values from monochrome cameras to using color information from green and blue channels of color cameras, detecting functional areas through color changes in the wavelength ranges 400-520 nm and 470-600 nm
2Measurement precision
If a monochrome camera with long integration time is used to capture reflected light changes, then measurement precision is improved, but surgical time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs intermittent stimulation of the tissue region rather than continuous stimulation, allowing the camera to capture images during stimulation phases and compare them with non-stimulation phases, reducing total imaging time while maintaining detection precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes from using long integration times in monochrome cameras to using color information from green and blue channels with shorter integration times, achieving sufficient signal detection through the specific optical property changes in these wavelength ranges during stimulation
3Measurement precision
If electrodes are used to detect functional brain areas through electrical stimulation, then measurement capability is achieved, but tissue injury risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces electrical measurement methods using physical electrodes with optical measurement methods using light reflection detection, eliminating the need for direct electrical contact with tissue while maintaining functional area detection capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces light as an intermediary substance to detect functional tissue areas, using the interaction between light and tissue optical properties (absorption, reflection, scattering) during stimulation instead of direct electrical electrode-tissue contact
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 quick and cost-effective identification of functional tissue areas with high measurement sensitivity, reducing surgical time and complexity by using a color camera to detect changes in light intensity and oxygen saturation, thereby distinguishing healthy from pathological tissue.
Implementation Method 1
a camera which can acquire light reflected by the tissue region
Implementation Method 2
there is a change in at least one optical property of the light reflected by the tissue region during the stimulation
Data Source
AI summary
The invention is directed to an apparatus for finding a functional tissue area in a tissue region. The apparatus has a measurement illuminating device suitable for emitting measurement illumination to the tissue region and a camera which can capture light reflected by the tissue region. The camera has a green channel and/or a blue channel wherein there is a change in an optical property of the light reflected by the tissue region during the stimulation thereof which is undertaken at least intermittently. An evaluation unit captures the change in the optical property only by a signal of the green channel and/or of the blue channel of the camera. A display unit can display an output signal of the evaluation unit for the functional tissue area in the tissue region.