Histopathology Probe with Digital Staining for Tissue Identification
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Solution Overview
Problem
Distinguishing between healthy and diseased tissue during surgery is challenging due to the difficulty in intraoperative differentiation, often requiring time-consuming lab analysis.
Innovation Solution
A histopathology system comprising an elongated cylindrical probe with scanners and a mesh net for tissue grasping, connected to a backend system that digitally stains and matches tissue images to a histopathological library for real-time identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If intraoperative frozen section procedures are used to identify tissue, then tissue identification accuracy is improved, but surgical time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical frozen section procedure with an optical imaging system. The probe captures fluorescent images of tissue in real-time during surgery, and image processing algorithms automatically analyze the fluorescent patterns to identify tissue type, eliminating the need for time-consuming frozen section analysis while maintaining diagnostic accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates digital copies of tissue fluorescent signatures and stores them in a database. During surgery, captured images are compared against these stored reference patterns to rapidly identify tissue type, replacing the need for physical tissue sectioning and laboratory analysis
2Measurement precision
If intraoperative frozen section procedures are used to identify tissue, then tissue identification accuracy is improved, but device and procedure complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The probe integrates multiple functions into a single device: it captures fluorescent images, the system processes images through algorithms, compares results against a database of tissue signatures, and provides automatic tissue identification. This multi-functional integration simplifies the overall procedure compared to separate frozen section steps
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs automatic image processing and tissue identification without requiring pathologist intervention during surgery. The algorithm autonomously analyzes fluorescent patterns and provides real-time feedback to the surgeon, eliminating the need for complex frozen section procedures
Data Source
AI summary
A histopathology system includes an elongated, cylindrical probe having scanners connected to a distal end of the probe and configured to capture digital images of tissue, a mesh net connected to the distal end of the probe and configured to grasp tissue, and control circuitry configured to expand and contract the mesh net to grasp the tissue being examined. The system includes an outer sheath into which the probe is inserted having one or more tabs extending from the outer sheath to affix the outer sheath at one or more locations. An elongated, cylindrical introducer device guides the outer sheath through a bodily orifice or surgical incision when the introducer device is inserted into the outer sheath. At least one server with processing circuitry is configured to digitally stain a tissue image obtained by the scanners of the tissue, and match the tissue images to stored tissue samples.