Optical Coherence Tomography for Real-Time Tumor Margin Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for differentiating between normal and tumor tissue during surgery are inadequate, leading to high rates of positive tumor margins and the need for additional surgical procedures, as existing techniques lack real-time, in vivo capabilities for microscopic analysis of tumor margins and lymph node assessment.
Innovation Solution
The development of an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system that provides real-time, high-resolution imaging and analysis of tissue margins and lymph nodes, allowing for intra-operative guidance and diagnosis using low-coherence interferometry and spectral-domain OCT, enabling precise visualization and classification of tissue during surgical procedures.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional surgical methods are used for tumor resection, then surgical procedures can be performed with standard equipment, but the ability to differentiate between normal and tumor tissue in real-time is inadequate, leading to high rates of positive tumor margins
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical surgical methods with optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging technology. OCT uses low-coherence interferometry to provide real-time, high-resolution cross-sectional images of tissue microstructure, enabling precise differentiation between normal and tumor tissue without relying on mechanical excision and histological processing. This substitution allows surgeons to visualize tissue margins in real-time during surgery, significantly improving measurement precision and reliability of tumor margin assessment.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces OCT imaging as an intermediary tool between the surgeon and the tissue being operated on. The OCT system provides real-time optical images that act as an intermediary representation of tissue microstructure, allowing the surgeon to assess tumor margins indirectly through high-resolution imaging rather than direct visual inspection. This intermediary imaging modality bridges the gap between conventional surgery and histological analysis, enabling real-time decision-making with high accuracy.
2Measurement precision
If real-time OCT imaging is implemented, then tissue differentiation accuracy and tumor margin assessment reliability improve, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates multiple functions into the OCT system to justify the increased device complexity. The OCT apparatus performs real-time imaging, provides cross-sectional tomographic images, enables tissue classification, and guides surgical resection all through a single integrated platform. This multi-functionality allows the complex device to deliver comprehensive surgical guidance, improving tissue differentiation accuracy while consolidating multiple surgical needs into one system.
3Productivity
If conventional histological processing is used, then tissue analysis can be performed, but additional surgical procedures are required and tissue removal is excessive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs tissue analysis in real-time during the initial surgical procedure using OCT imaging, rather than waiting for post-operative histological processing. By acquiring and analyzing cross-sectional images of tissue margins immediately during surgery, the system enables preliminary assessment of tumor resection completeness. This preliminary action allows surgeons to make informed decisions about additional resection needed before closing, eliminating the need for time-consuming post-operative analysis and reducing overall surgical time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements real-time feedback loops where OCT images are acquired during surgery, analyzed for tissue classification, and used to guide immediate surgical decisions. The system provides continuous feedback to the surgeon about the presence of tumor cells at margins, allowing dynamic adjustment of resection boundaries. This feedback mechanism eliminates the delay inherent in conventional histological processing and enables precise tissue removal without excessive margin resection, improving surgical efficiency and reducing operation time.
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 reduces the rate of positive tumor margins, decreases the need for additional surgeries, and minimizes tissue removal, while enhancing the accuracy of lymph node assessment, thereby improving cancer treatment and diagnosis by providing real-time, microscopic-level imaging and analysis.
Implementation Method 1
OCT utilizes low-coherence interferometry (LCI) to perform optical ranging within biological tissues
Implementation Method 2
OCT detects the reflections of low-coherence light, and cross-sectional imaging may be performed by measuring the backscattered intensity of light from structures in tissue
Implementation Method 3
Precision distance measurements may be performed by Michelson-type interferometry. In this case, light from the source is split by an optical fiber splitter, which functions as an interferometer
Data Source
AI summary
A system for providing intraoperative feedback to a user during the course of surgery. A core imaging unit provides low-coherence optical radiation coupled to a sampling device and generates optical coherence tomography (OCT) data based on combining scattered light received from the sampling device together with a reference signal. The sampling device is adapted to receive the low-coherence optical radiation from the core imaging unit and to illuminate the tissue, and to collect light scattered by the tissue and to return said light to the core imaging unit. A core software unit receives the OCT data from the core imaging unit provides real-time feedback, such as an image, to the user via an indicator.