Fiber Optic pH Sensing Array for Real-Time Tumor Margin Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical techniques for cancer resection lack a precise method to determine the boundary between normal and cancerous cells in real-time during procedures, often resulting in excessive removal of healthy tissue or incomplete tumor removal, necessitating additional surgeries.
Innovation Solution
A fiber optic pH sensing array with real-time visual mapping using a pH-sensitive coating material on a fiber bundle or V-groove block, which provides a pixelated image of localized surface pH to differentiate between normal and cancerous tissues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional histopathological examination is used to determine tumor margins, then measurement precision is improved, but loss of time worsens due to the lengthy processing required
Solution Approach 1:
The pH-sensitive coating is applied to the fiber optic probes before surgery, and the probes are positioned near the tumor site during surgery to provide real-time pH mapping. This preliminary preparation and real-time monitoring eliminate the need for lengthy post-surgical histopathological processing, providing immediate tumor margin identification while maintaining high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical histopathological examination process (dissection, fixation, staining, microscopy) with an optical sensing system using pH-sensitive fluorescent coatings on fiber optic probes. This substitution provides real-time tumor margin detection during surgery, eliminating the time-consuming conventional process while maintaining or improving measurement precision.
2Reliability
If cavity shaving is performed to ensure complete tumor removal, then reliability of cancer resection is improved, but loss of substance worsens due to excessive removal of healthy tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The pH-sensitive fiber optic probes provide real-time feedback during surgery by mapping the pH distribution around the tumor. Since cancerous tissue has a lower pH (6.4-6.8) compared to normal tissue (7.2), the visual pH mapping allows surgeons to precisely identify tumor boundaries and stop resection when normal tissue is reached, ensuring complete tumor removal while minimizing healthy tissue loss.
Solution Approach 2:
The pH-sensitive fluorescent coating changes color or fluorescence intensity based on the local pH value. This visual color change provides real-time indication of tissue type (cancerous vs. normal), allowing surgeons to precisely delineate tumor margins and perform targeted resection without excessive removal of healthy tissue, thereby improving reliability while reducing substance loss.
3Measurement precision
If advanced optical imaging approaches are used for tumor margin assessment, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The imaging system is segmented into simple, modular components: fiber optic probes with pH-sensitive coatings, a light source, and a detector. Each component performs a specific function, and they can be used independently or in combination. This segmentation maintains high measurement precision while reducing overall system complexity compared to integrated advanced optical imaging systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The pH-sensitive fluorescent coating acts as an intermediary between the tissue and the detection system. It converts the biochemical property (pH) into an optical signal that can be easily detected and visualized. This intermediary simplifies the measurement process while maintaining high precision in tumor margin detection, avoiding the need for complex direct imaging systems.
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 precise identification of tumor margins during surgery, reducing unnecessary tissue removal and the need for follow-up surgeries by providing immediate visual feedback to surgeons, thereby improving surgical outcomes.
Implementation Method 1
The coating material contains one or more pH sensitive dyes arranged to provide a response signal indicative of the pH value of the tissue in response to the excitation
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for inspecting a biological tissue uses a pH-sensitive coating material to determine whether the tissue is normal or cancerous. The coating material is placed in contact with the tissue to be excited by an excitation light. The coating material is arranged to provide a response signal indicative of the pH value of the tissue. Using a fiber bundle having a plurality of optical fibers forming a linear array or a two-dimensional array adjacent the coating material, the imaging of localized surface pH in the biological tissue can be achieved using the response signal through each of the optical fibers. The fiber bundle can be arranged as a probe to examine the tissue for providing direct mapping of the tumor margin via a display, so that a surgeon can inspect the tissue in real-time.