Optical Sensor for Non-Invasive Tissue Temperature Monitoring
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for monitoring tissue temperature during therapeutic procedures are invasive, prone to inaccuracies, and lack non-invasive, rapid feedback, which is crucial for safe and effective thermal treatments.
Innovation Solution
A system utilizing a light source, spectrometer, and optical fibers to correlate tissue temperature with the spectrum of reflected light, allowing direct temperature measurement without calculating optical properties, enabling non-invasive and accurate temperature assessment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If thermocouples or fiber optic sensors are used for temperature monitoring, then temperature measurement capability is provided, but the methods become invasive requiring probes to be placed within the target tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical probe-based temperature sensing systems (thermocouples and fiber optic sensors) with an optical measurement system that uses light reflection spectroscopy. The system employs a light source and detector to measure reflected light characteristics from the tissue surface, eliminating the need for invasive mechanical probes while maintaining temperature monitoring capability through optical property changes that correlate with temperature.
2Measurement precision
If thermocouples are used for temperature monitoring, then temperature measurement is achieved, but the measurements tend to overestimate tissue temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical reflection spectroscopy as an intermediary measurement method that indirectly assesses tissue temperature through changes in light reflection characteristics. Instead of directly contacting the tissue with thermocouples, the system measures optical properties (reflectance, scattering coefficients) that serve as proxies for temperature, providing a more accurate and reliable temperature assessment without the overestimation bias of thermocouple measurements.
3Measurement precision
If fiber optic sensors are used for temperature monitoring, then temperature measurement capability is provided, but the sensors are susceptible to motion artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical fiber optic sensors that are physically embedded in or near the tissue with a non-contact optical measurement system. This substitution eliminates the mechanical interface between the sensor and tissue, thereby removing the source of motion artifacts while maintaining temperature monitoring capability through spectral reflection measurements.
4Measurement precision
If infrared sensors configured to measure infrared light emitted from a sample are used, then temperature measurement capability is provided, but the process involves time-consuming calibration measurements and calculations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses optical reflection spectroscopy to create a spectral signature or 'copy' of the tissue's optical properties that directly correlates with temperature. By measuring the reflection spectrum and analyzing characteristic peaks and slopes, the system obtains temperature information without requiring time-consuming calibration procedures or complex blackbody modeling calculations, thereby reducing measurement time while maintaining accuracy.
5Measurement precision
If infrared sensors modelling a sample as blackbody emitter are used, then temperature calculation is achieved, but the measurements can be prone to inaccuracies due to inconsistent use or maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces optical reflection spectroscopy as an intermediary measurement approach that avoids the direct blackbody modeling method. By measuring reflected light characteristics and analyzing spectral features (peaks, slopes, and their variations), the system obtains temperature information through a more reliable and consistent optical property measurement that is less sensitive to environmental factors and device maintenance conditions, thereby improving measurement reliability and consistency.
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 accurate, non-invasive temperature monitoring of biological tissues during thermal treatments, ensuring safe and effective delivery of therapies like cancer lesion removal and photobiomodulation, with improved precision and reduced risk of tissue damage.
Implementation Method 1
a light source configured to providing a beam of light to a sample of biological tissue, the light source including wavelengths over a range of at least 50 nm
Implementation Method 2
a spectrometer configured for measuring a spectrum of an amount of light reflected from the biological tissue in response to the beam of light provided to the tissue
Implementation Method 3
correlating a wavelength of a water absorption peak in the measured spectrum with the temperature of the tissue
Data Source
AI summary
The techniques described herein relate to a system including a light source configured to providing a beam of light to a sample of biological tissue, the light source including wavelengths over a range of at least 50 nm: a spectrometer configured for measuring a spectrum of an amount of light reflected from the biological tissue in response to the beam of light provided to the tissue; and a controller configured for directly correlating a temperature of the biological tissue with the spectrum of the light reflected from the biological tissue to determine a temperature of the biological tissue.