Multimodal Tethered Capsule OCT Imaging and Biopsy for Barrett’s Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Endoscopic screening for Barrett's esophagus (BE) followed by surveillance is costly and inconvenient, making it unsuitable for population-based screening, and existing swallowable capsules for BE detection are not economically viable for ongoing surveillance of a large population.
Innovation Solution
A tethered capsule system with optical coherence tomography (OCT) and multimodal imaging capabilities, including autofluorescence and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, enables non-sedated screening and targeted biopsies using a cryobiopsy apparatus, allowing for the identification of esophageal cancer progression biomarkers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If endoscopic screening and surveillance is used for Barrett's esophagus detection, then detection accuracy is improved, but cost and patient convenience deteriorate due to requirement of conscious sedation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical endoscopic system requiring sedation with an optical-based capsule system. The swallowable capsule contains optical fibers that transmit light for imaging and biopsy functions, eliminating the need for conscious sedation while maintaining detection capability through optical coherence tomography and spectroscopy imaging.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary optical processing system between the capsule and detection. The optical fibers act as intermediaries to transmit illumination light and collect reflected light, enabling the capsule to perform imaging and biopsy functions remotely without requiring direct mechanical endoscopic intervention.
2Reliability
If endoscopic surveillance is performed on all Barrett's esophagus patients, then cancer detection is improved, but healthcare cost deteriorates due to large population requiring follow-up
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by using spectroscopy imaging to identify specific tissue characteristics that indicate high-risk Barrett's esophagus. Instead of uniform surveillance of all patients, the system identifies and targets only those with abnormal spectral signatures, enabling differentiated follow-up strategies based on individual tissue properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary risk stratification through the capsule's imaging and spectroscopy functions. By conducting initial comprehensive assessment with the swallowable capsule, the system identifies high-risk patients who require further endoscopic surveillance, while low-risk patients can be managed with less intensive follow-up, performing the triage action before committing to expensive surveillance.
3Measurement precision
If a tethered capsule system with multiple imaging modalities is used, then diagnostic capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple imaging modalities (optical coherence tomography, autofluorescence spectroscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy) into a single integrated capsule system. The optical fibers serve as a common platform for all imaging functions, combining what would otherwise be separate devices into one swallowable unit, thereby managing complexity through functional integration rather than multiplication of components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal optical fiber-based platform that performs multiple diagnostic functions. The same optical fiber infrastructure supports illumination, OCT imaging, autofluorescence detection, and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, allowing a single device to provide comprehensive tissue characterization across different imaging modalities without requiring separate specialized equipment for each function.
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
Enables accurate, non-sedated screening and biopsy of esophageal tissues for cancer progression biomarkers, potentially reducing healthcare costs and improving patient outcomes by identifying high-risk individuals for targeted intervention.
Implementation Method 1
an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system, the OCT system including an OCT light source, the OCT light source configured to transmit OCT light through a core of the DCF into the lens such that the OCT light is emitted from the lens toward a sample
Implementation Method 2
at least one of the first electromagnetic radiation or the second electromagnetic radiation may excite fluorescence in the anatomical structure to generate the third electromagnetic radiation
Implementation Method 3
an autofluorescence and diffuse reflectance (AF/R) spectroscopy imaging system including an AF/R light source, the AF/R light source configured to transmit AF/R light through the MMF into the lens such that the AF/R light is emitted from the lens toward the sample, and the AF/R spectroscopy imaging system configured to collect the AF/R light remitted from the sample
Implementation Method 4
a lens including a double clad fiber (DCF) and a multimode fiber (MMF) coupled thereto
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging and biopsy device, including: a tethered capsule that is configured to be swallowed; a first optical fiber transmitting an electromagnetic radiation that at least partially impacts an anatomical structure; and a biopsy apparatus configured to collect tissue from the anatomical structure, the electromagnetic radiation at least partially or temporarily impacting the biopsy apparatus, and at least a portion of the first optical fiber and the biopsy apparatus being associated with the tethered capsule.