Fluorescent Guided Imaging With Asynchronous Pulse Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fluorescent-guided imaging techniques face limitations in providing clear visual and quantitative information about tagged cells during surgery, especially when they are obscured by overlying tissue, and there is a need for improved methods to differentiate and locate tumors and healthy tissues effectively.
Innovation Solution
A method and system utilizing pulsed light emissions from fluoroscopic materials, asynchronous detection of pulses, and three-dimensional imaging to identify the location of fluoroscopic materials, enabling precise differentiation and display of multiple tissue types, even when obscured, by using pulsed laser signals and modulation schemes to distinguish between different fluoroscopic materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If fluorescent dyes emitting visible light are used for imaging, then the surgeon can visually distinguish tagged tissues, but the light is scattered or attenuated by overlying tissue obscuring the tumor from view
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the wavelength parameter of the fluorescent emission from visible light to near-infrared (NIR) and short-wave infrared (SWIR) ranges. This parameter change allows the light to penetrate deeper through tissue with reduced scattering and attenuation, solving the problem of obscured tumors while maintaining visual distinction capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs pulsed laser excitation and asynchronous pulse detection, where the laser emits periodic pulses and the detector captures emissions asynchronously. This periodic action enables temporal separation of the excitation signal from background noise, improving signal-to-noise ratio and enabling detection through overlying tissue.
2Loss of information
If multiple fluorescent dyes are used to tag different tissue types, then the surgeon can distinguish between tumors and healthy tissues, but it becomes difficult to differentiate and locate them when obscured by overlying tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the detection range into NIR and SWIR wavelength regions where tissue scattering and attenuation are reduced. This parameter change in the spectral domain allows multiple fluorescent tags to be detected through overlying tissue, preserving visual information about tagged cells that would otherwise be obscured.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses pulsed excitation with different modulation schemes for different fluorescent materials, enabling asynchronous detection that can temporally and spectrally resolve multiple tissue types even when obscured, preventing loss of diagnostic information.
3Measurement precision
If conventional fluorescent imaging methods are used, then the surgeon can see tagged tissues, but quantitative information and precise location data about the tagged cells are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs asynchronous pulse detection that records the precise timing of each detected photon relative to the pulsed excitation. This temporal information, combined with the spatial position of detection, enables reconstruction of three-dimensional location data and quantitative analysis of tagged cell distributions with high precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from two-dimensional surface imaging to three-dimensional localization by incorporating time-of-flight information from pulsed excitation. This adds a temporal dimension that enables depth resolution and precise spatial mapping of tagged cells within the tissue volume.
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
Enhances surgical precision by providing clear, three-dimensional visualization of tagged tissues, reducing ambiguity during surgeries by accurately distinguishing between different tissue types, including tumors and nerves, even when they are overlapped by other tissues.
Implementation Method 1
fluorescent dyes that emit light having longer wavelengths than visible light... photons emitted at longer wavelengths tend to be less scattered by tissue
Implementation Method 2
asynchronously detecting pulses of the pulsed light emissions... determining pulse-source coordinates in the image
Data Source
AI summary
A method of medical imaging is provided. The method includes receiving pulsed light emissions from fluoroscopic material in a target field of a patient, wherein the target field was treated with fluoroscopic material that emitted the pulsed light emissions in response to a pulsed laser signal. The pulsed laser signal has a wavelength that was selected to excite the fluoroscopic material. The method further includes capturing a passive image of the target field and asynchronously detecting pulses of the pulsed light emissions. The method further includes determining pulse-source coordinates in the image, wherein the pulse-source coordinates correspond to a location of the fluoroscopic material that emitted the pulsed light emissions.