Confocal Lesion Mapping With Skin-Surface Coordinate Guides
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Solution Overview
Problem
Confocal microscopes lack the capability to identify the precise locations of lesions on the surface of skin tissue, making it difficult to accurately target treatment and monitor changes in the lesion over time.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using a guide member with a spatially correlated grid and axes affixed to the skin tissue, combined with a template device, to map the locations of captured confocal images, allowing for precise lesion identification and future reimaging.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If confocal microscopy is used to image tissue sections without histological preparation, then non-invasive imaging is achieved, but the ability to identify precise lesion locations on the skin surface is lost
Solution Approach 1:
A guide member is introduced as an intermediary tool between the confocal microscope and the skin tissue. This guide member includes a coordinate system with grid lines and axes that are spatially correlated with the skin surface, allowing precise location mapping while maintaining non-invasive imaging capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a spatial reference dimension by superimposing a coordinate system (grid and axes) onto the tissue surface. This dimensional addition enables precise location identification without altering the confocal microscopy imaging process itself
2Measurement precision
If a guide member with coordinate system is introduced to map lesion locations, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides spatial reference through coordinate lines, enables lesion location mapping, guides template device positioning, and maintains correlation with the skin surface. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components
Solution Approach 2:
The guide member combines the coordinate system, grid lines, axes, and tissue surface reference into a single integrated component. This merging simplifies the overall system by consolidating multiple reference functions into one element
3Measurement precision
If the guide member is affixed to the tissue for spatial correlation, then location mapping accuracy is improved, but the ability to relocate for future imaging is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The guide member is pre-affixed to the tissue with the coordinate system aligned before imaging begins. This preliminary positioning ensures accurate spatial correlation during the imaging process, and the guide member can be removed and repositioned for future examinations
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 mapping and tracking of lesion locations for targeted treatment and monitoring of tissue changes, minimizing harm to healthy tissue and facilitating future examinations.
Implementation Method 1
Confocal microscopes optically section tissue to produce microscopic images of tissue sections
Implementation Method 2
the locations of captured images of skin tissue, with respect to the surface thereof, spatially correspond to locations on a guide member affixed to the skin tissue beside the tissue being imaged
Implementation Method 3
a template device upon the tissue aligned with such features having a first aperture located over the surface of the guide member, and a second aperture located over the tissue
Data Source
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Figure 3A~3D
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AI summary
A system (11) is provided having a guide member (12) with features, such as grid (20) and axes (26a, 26b), which spatially correlate to tissue (41) with a lesion (40) adjacent the guide member (12), and a template device (16) upon the tissue (41) aligned with the features having a first aperture (32) over the guide member (12), and a second aperture (33) over the tissue (41) with the lesion (40). A microscope (14) captures one or more images of the tissue (41) via the second aperture (33) at one or more locations each spatially correlated with a location selected or being mapped along the guide member (12) in the first aperture (32). Prior to imaging and template device (16) placement, marks (45) are recorded along the guide member (12) when part of a tracing sheet (10) is positioned in a folded state over the lesion (40) to establish spatial correlation of the features of the guide member (12) to the lesion (40) when in an unfolded state and positioned for use with the template device (16) and microscope (14).