Micro Optical Element Array for Rapid Tumor Margin Imaging
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current surgical techniques for tumor resection lack efficient intraoperative assessment methods, leading to incomplete tumor removal and subsequent re-operation, increased treatment costs, and psychological stress due to delayed pathological assessments, especially for large tissue samples.
Innovation Solution
A system using an array of micro optical elements for rapid imaging of resected tissue, allowing for high-quality intraoperative assessment of tumor margins without freezing or formalin processing, enabling fast and comprehensive imaging of large tissue surfaces within 30 minutes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If visual inspection and palpation are used for intraoperative assessment, then the assessment can be performed quickly (within 30 minutes), but the resolution and accuracy are low (approximate only)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical visual inspection and palpation with an optical imaging system that uses light to capture high-resolution images of resection margins. The system substitutes human sensory limitations with optical detection, enabling detailed visualization of tissue margins without extending surgical time, as the imaging process is automated and rapid.
2Measurement precision
If frozen section analysis is performed for intraoperative pathological assessment, then high-quality pathological evaluation can be obtained, but the operation time is prolonged by at least 30 minutes
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary imaging and assessment of resection margins during the surgical procedure itself, before the surgery concludes. By capturing high-resolution optical images immediately after resection and before specimen processing, the system enables real-time decision-making without waiting for frozen section results, thereby eliminating the 30-minute time penalty associated with traditional frozen section analysis.
3Measurement precision
If X-ray, ultrasound, or magnetic resonance imaging are used for supplementary assessment, then additional imaging information can be obtained, but only approximate (low resolution) assessments of resection margins are provided
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using optical imaging specifically targeted at the resection margin interface, where high-resolution imaging is most critical. Rather than using complex whole-body imaging modalities like MRI or ultrasound that provide only approximate margins, the system focuses optical imaging resources on the specific local area of interest (the resection boundary), achieving high resolution where it matters most without requiring complex system-wide imaging infrastructure.
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, high-quality imaging of resected tissue in the operating theater, reducing the need for re-operation and lowering treatment costs by providing real-time assessment of tumor margins, thus improving patient outcomes and surgical efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
An array of micro optical elements (e.g., micro lenses) is used to focus light onto a focal plane that can reside within a sample or on its surface during imaging
Implementation Method 2
Detecting optics are used to detect back-emitted light collected by an array of micro optical elements
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A
AI summary
Disclosed herein are systems for imaging of samples, for example, using an array of micro optical elements and methods of their use. In some embodiments, an optical chip comprising an array of micro optical elements moves relative to an imaging window and a detector in order to scan over a sample to produce an image. A focal plane can reside within a sample or on its surface during imaging. In some embodiments, detecting optics are used to detect back-emitted light collected by an array of micro optical elements that is generated by an illumination beam impinging on a sample. In some embodiments, an imaging system has a large field of view and a large optical chip such that an entire surface of a sample can be imaged quickly. In some embodiments, a sample is accessible by a user during imaging due to the sample being exposed.