Optical Tissue Analysis for Resection Margin Accuracy
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for intra-operative inspection of resection margins during tumor surgery are laborious and time-consuming, often resulting in inadequate resection margins due to insufficient guidance for surgeons, especially in complex anatomical areas like the oral cavity, where visual inspection and palpation are insufficient to ensure complete tumor removal.
Innovation Solution
A method that measures spatial variance of analyte concentrations in tissue samples using optical techniques like Raman spectroscopy, correlating the variance with the presence of tumor tissue to accurately determine resection margins, providing real-time feedback on the depth and extent of tumor tissue to ensure adequate resection margins are achieved.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If frozen section procedure is used for intraoperative assessment of resection margins, then histological evaluation can be performed, but the procedure is laborious and time consuming leading to limited sample inspection and sampling error
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical frozen section procedure with optical spectroscopy (Raman, fluorescence, or absorbance spectroscopy) to analyze tissue samples. The optical probe delivers light to the tissue and detects spectral signatures that indicate tumor presence, eliminating the need for physical tissue sectioning, freezing, and microscopic examination by pathologists. This substitution maintains measurement precision while dramatically reducing procedure time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an optical copy or spectral fingerprint of the tissue's molecular composition without physically altering or sectioning the tissue. By analyzing the spectral signature of analytes (such as water, lipids, proteins) in the tissue, the system generates information equivalent to histological evaluation but without the time-consuming frozen section process. This allows rapid assessment of resection margins while preserving the original tissue structure.
2Ease of operation
If visual inspection and palpation are used by surgeon, then the procedure is simple and quick, but it is insufficient to warrant adequate resections in complex anatomical areas
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces visual inspection and palpation with optical spectroscopy that provides molecular-level information about tissue composition. The optical probe detects spectral signatures characteristic of tumor tissue versus normal tissue, giving the surgeon precise real-time feedback on resection margins without adding mechanical complexity to the surgical procedure. This maintains ease of operation while dramatically improving measurement precision.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an optical intermediary (the spectroscopy-based detection system) that translates molecular composition into detectable spectral signals. This intermediary provides the surgeon with objective molecular information about tissue identity, bridging the gap between simple visual inspection and complex histological analysis. The system acts as a real-time molecular guide without requiring the surgeon to perform complex procedures.
3Measurement precision
If multiple measurements are taken at closely spaced locations to improve accuracy, then measurement accuracy as a function of depth improves, but the distance between measurements must be large enough to sample sufficient region
Solution Approach 1:
The patent addresses the spatial sampling challenge by measuring at multiple depths along the same tissue location rather than requiring large lateral spacing between measurements. The optical probe can selectively focus at different depths within the tissue, obtaining depth-resolved spectral information from the same spatial position. This dimensional approach to sampling allows accurate depth measurement while minimizing the area of tissue required for analysis.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2B
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
Method and instrument for analysing a tissue sample (S). Localized concentrations of an analyte (C) are measured at a plurality of spaced apart locations (dX,dZ) around a controlled depth (Z). Spatial variance (Cv) of the analyte (C) is calculated based on the measured analyte concentrations. The procedure is repeated while varying the controlled depth (Z) to obtain the spatial variance (Cv) as a function of depth (Z). Tissue at a particular depth may be evaluated as tumour tissue (T) when the spatial variance (Cv) is below the threshold. For example, a section distance (R) is calculated between the tissue surface (A) and a depth (Z) where the measured spatial variance (Cv) crosses a predetermined threshold variance (Tv). Feedback can be provided based on a comparison between a calculated section distance (R) and a pre-set minimum section margin (M).