Optical Coherence Tomography Actuation for Non-Invasive Tissue Imaging

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current optical coherence elastography (OCE) methods rely on mechanical actuation, which can be invasive and limit the sensitivity and precision of tissue displacement measurements, especially for soft tissues and cellular resolution imaging.

Innovation Solution

The use of optical coherence tomography (OCT) combined with a separate optical actuation beam to apply non-contact optical forces, allowing for phase-sensitive detection of nanometer-scale displacements and enabling cellular-resolution volumetric imaging without physical contact, thereby improving the sensitivity and precision of OCE measurements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If mechanical actuation is used for OCE measurements, then tissue displacement can be induced, but the sensitivity and precision of measurements are limited and the method becomes invasive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplacement measurement precisionVSAvoidinvasiveness

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical actuation systems with optical actuation using radiation pressure from a laser beam. The optical radiation pressure applies force to particles within the tissue without physical contact, eliminating the invasiveness of mechanical actuators while enabling precise measurement of tissue displacement through OCT interferometry.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces particles (such as gold nanoparticles or microbubbles) as intermediaries within the tissue. These particles serve as both the target for optical radiation pressure actuation and the reflectors for OCT detection, allowing indirect measurement of tissue mechanical properties without direct mechanical contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If mechanical actuators are used for tissue actuation, then physical contact is required, but this limits cellular-resolution imaging capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecellular-resolution imaging precisionVSAvoidphysical contact requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces mechanical actuators with optical radiation pressure, allowing actuation at cellular resolution without physical contact. The optical beam can be focused to diffraction-limited spots, enabling precise local actuation and measurement at the cellular scale while avoiding the bulk tissue contact inherent in mechanical actuation methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Measurement precision

If contact-type actuators are used, then mechanical force can be applied, but sensitivity to subtle tissue changes is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensitivity to tissue changesVSAvoidmechanical force application

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes mechanical force application with optical radiation pressure, which can apply extremely small forces with high precision. The radiation pressure from the optical actuation beam generates sufficient force to displace particles and induce tissue deformation at the nanometer scale, enabling detection of subtle mechanical changes that would be missed by contact-based methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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

This approach provides highly sensitive and non-invasive OCE measurements, enabling the detection of subtle mechanical changes in tissues with cellular resolution, facilitating early disease diagnosis and improved treatment strategies by quantifying biomechanical properties with enhanced precision.

Implementation Method 1

a light source that produces an optical actuation beam that is coupled along with the optical sampling beam to be directed to the sample to actuate particles, or any other optically scattering structures, in the sample

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical radiation pressure: Radiation Pressure

Implementation Method 2

an optical coherence tomography (OCT) device that performs optical imaging of a sample based on optical interferometry from an optical sampling beam interacting with an optical sample and an optical reference beam

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical interferometry: Interference

Data Source

PatentUS10072920B2Optical sensing based on measurements of displacements induced by optical scattering forces in viscoelastic media using phase-sensitive optical coherence tomography

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 CORNELL UNIVERSITY

AI summary

Disclosed are devices and techniques based on optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology in combination with optical actuation. A system for providing optical actuation and optical sensing can include an optical coherence tomography (OCT) device that performs optical imaging of a sample based on optical interferometry from an optical sampling beam interacting with an optical sample and an optical reference beam; an OCT light source to provide an OCT imaging beam into the OCT device which splits the OCT imaging beam into the optical sampling beam and the optical reference beam; and a light source that produces an optical actuation beam that is coupled along with the optical sampling beam to be directed to the sample to actuate particles or structures in the sample so that the optical imaging captures information of the sample under the optical actuation.