LIBS Tissue Discrimination Device with Gas Flow Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing LIBS technology faces challenges in accurately discriminating biological tissues under clinical conditions due to moisture, contaminants, and uncontrollable atmospheres, leading to distorted plasma spectra and potentially dangerous surgical decisions.
Innovation Solution
A device incorporating a blowing unit to establish a controlled gas flow around the laser beam's impact zone, removing intrinsic moisture and contaminants, ensuring a robust and stable plasma plume generation for accurate spectrum reading and tissue discrimination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If LIBS technology is used for tissue discrimination under clinical conditions, then tissue identification capability is improved, but measurement accuracy deteriorates due to moisture and contaminants distorting plasma spectra
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using a first laser pulse to pre-ablate and remove moisture and contaminants from the tissue surface before the second laser pulse generates the plasma plume for spectral analysis. This preparatory step ensures that the plasma is generated from clean tissue material, eliminating spectral distortion caused by water and contaminants while maintaining accurate tissue identification capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a dual-laser system as an intermediary mechanism between the tissue sample and the spectral detection system. The first laser acts as a mediator to condition the surface by removing harmful substances, while the second laser mediates the plasma generation process. This intermediary approach protects the measurement accuracy without compromising the adaptability of tissue discrimination
2Measurement precision
If a highly energetic excitation laser beam is focused on tissue to generate plasma plume, then tissue discrimination capability is improved, but harmful effects increase due to uncontrolled atmosphere and contaminants interfering with readings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing harmful contaminants and moisture from the tissue surface through the first laser pulse before plasma generation. This extraction of unwanted substances eliminates the source of spectral interference, allowing the highly energetic second laser pulse to generate a clean plasma plume that accurately represents the tissue composition without atmospheric or contaminant distortion
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary anti-action by using the first laser pulse to counteract and eliminate the harmful effects of moisture and contaminants before they can interfere with the plasma generation process. This preemptive removal of interfering substances prevents spectral distortion before it occurs, ensuring accurate tissue discrimination capability
3Object-affected harmful factors
If saline flow is used for irrigation during laser cutting to dissipate thermal effects, then thermal damage prevention is improved, but plasma generation is hindered due to moisture preventing or reducing plasma intensity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by using the first laser pulse to remove excess saline and moisture from the tissue surface before the second laser pulse generates the plasma plume. This preparatory drying step ensures reliable plasma generation despite the presence of irrigation saline, while the saline continues to provide thermal protection during the actual cutting operation
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements periodic action through the sequential use of two laser pulses: the first pulse periodically removes moisture and contaminants, while the second pulse generates the plasma for analysis. This periodic alternation between surface preparation and plasma generation ensures both reliable plasma formation and thermal protection from saline irrigation
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
The device provides reliable and repeatable tissue discrimination, preventing distortion from contaminants and moisture, allowing for safe and precise surgical interventions by ensuring accurate plasma plume generation and spectrum analysis.
Implementation Method 1
making a highly energetic excitation laser beam (typically an Nd:YAG (neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet) pulsed laser) strike a material under study (in this case the tissue), suitably focusing it if needed, which produces an ionization of the material on the microscopic level that generates a plasma plume
Implementation Method 2
Said plasma emits light radiation the characteristic spectrum (light intensity emitted for each wavelength) of which depends directly on the chemical composition of the material
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a device for the discrimination of biological tissues, such that it is capable of carrying out the discrimination of tissue under complicated operating conditions, for example due to the presence of contaminating elements given off by a cutting operation, due to the presence of moisture in the biological tissue, or due to the presence of a non-controlled atmosphere that interferes with the results of the readings. The invention allows building more complex devices, including cutting instruments, such that it is possible to carry out a surgical intervention in a safe manner by preventing cutting into tissues that are to be avoided during said cutting operation.