Optical Quantification Device for Hepatic Tissue Lipid Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for assessing liver steatosis in liver transplantation are subjective, difficult due to blood presence, and require complex laboratory analysis with specialized equipment, leading to inefficiencies and potential graft rejection.
Innovation Solution
A portable device using a broad-spectrum vacuum tungsten lamp and photosensitive sensor for diffraction analysis of hepatic tissues, allowing for on-site estimation of lipid and protein levels without biopsy, enabling quicker and more precise assessments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If visual assessment and palpation by surgeons are used to evaluate liver steatosis, then the assessment can be performed quickly and without specialized equipment, but the results are subjective and difficult to achieve due to the presence of blood around the liver
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/visual assessment system (surgeon's hands and eyes) with an optical analysis system that uses light diffraction patterns. The device captures optical patterns from the liver tissue and analyzes them computationally to objectively determine steatosis levels, eliminating the subjectivity and difficulty of manual assessment while maintaining ease of use during surgery.
2Measurement precision
If complex laboratory analysis with specialized equipment is used to quantify steatosis levels, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and loss of time increase due to transport to specialized laboratories
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential analytical function from complex specialized laboratories and concentrates it into a portable device that can be used directly in the operating room. By taking out only the critical light source and sensor components needed for diffraction analysis, the system achieves laboratory-quality precision without the complexity and time loss of transporting samples to specialized facilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the laboratory analysis capability that can function in the operating room environment. Instead of requiring the full complexity of synchrotron facilities or specialized infrared laboratories, the device replicates the essential measurement function using a portable light source and sensor, making precise steatosis quantification available at the point of care.
3Measurement precision
If biopsy is performed to obtain samples for steatosis analysis, then measurement precision is improved, but the procedure becomes more invasive and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the liver tissue itself to serve as the analysis sample without requiring extraction or biopsy. The optical diffraction device analyzes steatosis levels directly through the liver tissue in situ, allowing the tissue to 'self-report' its lipid and protein content through its optical properties, thereby eliminating the need for invasive sampling procedures.
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
Facilitates rapid, precise, and objective evaluation of liver steatosis levels directly during surgery, reducing graft rejection rates and minimizing transplant delays by eliminating the need for specialized laboratories.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured in order to project said light upon hepatic tissues to be analyzed; said light source is in the form of at least one vacuum tungsten lamp
Implementation Method 2
capture said light emitted from said light source after diffraction within said hepatic tissues
Implementation Method 3
a photosensitive sensor configured in order to capture said light
Data Source
AI summary
A quantification device for the level of lipids and/or proteins present within hepatic tissues. The Device includes: a light source, having at least one vacuum tungsten lamp with a total power of between 0.5 and 2 watts, with a total brightness of between 1000 and 2000 lumens and a total color temperature of between 6000 and 10000 degrees Kelvin; a photosensitive sensor having a sensitivity wavelength of between 800 nm and 2450 nm, configured to capture the light emitted from the light source after diffraction within liver tissues; means for extracting a diffraction spectrum of the light according to an image captured by the photosensitive sensor; and means for analyzing the spectrum in order to determine a level of lipids and/or proteins.