DESI-MS Tissue Analysis for Intraoperative Biomarker Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for tumor diagnostics, such as light microscopy and immunohistochemistry, are time-consuming and provide delayed results, limiting immediate intraoperative surgical decision-making, as they often require days to yield results, whereas immediate feedback is crucial for surgical interventions.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of mass spectrometry systems, specifically desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS), for rapid analysis of tissue samples, enabling the detection of biomarkers like 2-Hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) directly from tissues with minimal preparation, providing real-time diagnostic information in the operating room.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If light microscopy and immunohistochemistry are used for tumor diagnostics, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but analysis time increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical/optical microscopy and immunohistochemistry methods with mass spectrometry technology. The DESI-MS system directly analyzes tissue metabolites by ionizing molecules in ambient conditions and measuring their mass-to-charge ratios, providing rapid metabolic profiling without requiring lengthy staining or sectioning procedures, thus reducing analysis time while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent shifts the diagnostic parameter from morphological features (visualized by microscopy) to metabolic parameters (detected by mass spectrometry). By monitoring metabolite profiles such as 2-hydroxyglutarate levels, the system provides real-time diagnostic information that reflects tumor biochemistry, enabling rapid classification and grading of gliomas within minutes rather than hours or days
2Loss of information
If traditional histological methods are used, then detailed tissue characterization is achieved, but immediate intraoperative feedback is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces slow histological processing with rapid mass spectrometry analysis. The DESI-MS system performs direct tissue analysis by spraying ionizable solvent onto tissue sections and analyzing the resulting ion current, providing real-time metabolic information that enables immediate intraoperative decision-making while preserving comprehensive tissue characterization capabilities
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary metabolic analysis directly on fresh frozen tissue sections before formalin fixation. By analyzing metabolites in their native state using DESI-MS, the system provides immediate diagnostic information that guides surgical resection boundaries, allowing surgeons to maximize tumor removal while preserving healthy tissue without waiting for traditional pathological processing
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 approach allows for rapid tumor classification, prognostic information, and real-time discrimination between cancerous and normal tissues, facilitating immediate surgical decisions and optimizing tumor resection while minimizing healthy tissue loss.
Implementation Method 1
a system is provided that uses desorption electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (DESI-MS) in ambient conditions with minimal pretreatment of the samples
Implementation Method 2
analyze the tissue sample using a mass spectrometry process to generate mass spectrometry data
Data Source
AI summary
A system for identifying a bio-marker using mass spectroscopy is provided that includes a sample receptacle configured to receive a tissue sample, a mass spectrometry apparatus configured to receive the tissue sample and analyze the tissue sample using a mass spectrometry process to generate mass spectrometry data, and a computer system that includes a computer processor having access to a non-transitory, computer-readable storage medium having stored thereon instructions. The instructions cause the computer processor to: receive the mass spectrometry data from the mass spectrometry apparatus; analyze the mass spectrometry data to determine a presence of 2-Hydroxyglutarate (2-HG) in the tissue sample; and generate a report indicating a health of the tissue sample based on the presence of 2-HG in the tissue sample.