Optical Biopsy Tissue Characterization via Spectroscopy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current core needle biopsy (CNB) procedures often result in non-diagnostic samples due to insufficient tissue, leading to repeated procedures and potential complications, and the advent of molecular pathology tests requires more tissue, delaying diagnosis and increasing risk.
Innovation Solution
A spectroscopy system and method that classifies tissue samples by receiving light from multiple locations within the biopsy specimen, processing the spectrum to determine chromophore features, estimating Z-scores, and classifying the tissue without removing it from the biopsy needle, allowing for immediate characterization and quantification of diagnostic tissue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If core needle biopsy is performed to obtain tissue sample, then tissue can be obtained for diagnosis, but approximately 15-20% of biopsy specimens are non-diagnostic due to insufficient tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing optical spectroscopy analysis on the biopsy specimen immediately after extraction but before pathological processing. This allows real-time assessment of tissue adequacy and diagnostic quality, enabling clinicians to determine whether the biopsy specimen contains sufficient diagnostic tissue before proceeding with further processing or additional procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical histopathological examination with optical spectroscopy analysis. Instead of requiring physical tissue sectioning and microscopic examination by pathologists, the system uses light interaction with chromophores in the tissue to obtain diagnostic information, allowing for rapid assessment without removing tissue from the needle.
2Ease of operation
If biopsy specimen is removed from needle for pathological analysis, then tissue can be examined, but tissue stress increases and diagnostic accuracy may decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical spectroscopy as an intermediary method between tissue extraction and pathological examination. The spectroscopy system acts as a mediator that can assess tissue diagnostic quality without requiring the tissue to be removed from the needle, thereby preserving tissue integrity while still providing pathological information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of tissue removal and handling with optical spectroscopy. By using light-based measurement, the system eliminates the need to physically manipulate and remove tissue from the needle, thereby maintaining tissue integrity and reducing stress while still enabling diagnostic examination.
3Quantity of substance
If repeated biopsy procedures are performed to obtain diagnostic tissue, then adequate tissue can be obtained, but patient complications increase such as collapsed lung
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by assessing tissue diagnostic quality immediately after the first biopsy procedure using optical spectroscopy. This real-time assessment allows clinicians to determine whether additional procedures are necessary, thereby preventing unnecessary repeated biopsies and associated complications.
4Adaptability or versatility
If molecular pathology tests are performed requiring larger tissue amounts, then more comprehensive testing can be conducted, but diagnosis time is delayed and patient risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by performing optical spectroscopy analysis immediately after biopsy to assess tissue adequacy before proceeding with molecular pathology tests. This allows clinicians to determine whether the specimen contains sufficient diagnostic tissue in advance, preventing delays associated with insufficient samples and enabling timely progression to comprehensive testing when appropriate.
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 classification and quantification of diagnostic tissue within the biopsy specimen without removing it from the needle, reducing the need for repeated procedures, minimizing tissue stress, and streamlining the diagnostic process.
Implementation Method 1
receiving a light from at least one location of the tissue sample including a plurality of chromophores, wherein the received light comprises at least an attenuated illumination light
Implementation Method 2
the received light comprises at least an attenuated illumination light and a re-emitted light
Data Source
AI summary
A method for classifying a tissue sample of a biopsy specimen into one of a plurality of classes is presented. The method includes receiving a light from at least one location of the tissue sample including a plurality of chromophores, wherein the received light comprises at least one of an attenuated illumination light and a re-emitted light. The method further includes processing a spectrum of the received light to determine a feature for each of the chromophores in the at least one location of the tissue sample. In addition, the method includes estimating a Z-score for each of the chromophores based on the determined feature. Also, the method includes classifying the tissue sample into one of the plurality of classes based on the estimated Z-score for each of the chromophores.