Interstitial Optical Tumor Mapping for Precise Laser Ablation Planning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing laser ablation techniques, such as LITT, face challenges in accurately defining tumor margins, leading to potential ablation of non-diseased tissue and insufficient ablation of diseased tissue, resulting in patient morbidities and tumor recurrence.
Innovation Solution
An interstitial optical tumor mapping system using an optical fiber probe with an emitter and imaging fiber to excite and detect fluorescent dye within a tumor, generating an optical map correlated with MR images to plan precise laser ablation, and confirm ablation completeness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If MR imaging is used to determine tumor margin, then the tumor margin can be visualized, but the resolution is insufficient to define the margin with fine precision, leading to potential ablation of non-diseased tissue or insufficient ablation of diseased tissue
Solution Approach 1:
A fluorescent dye (5-ALA) is introduced as an intermediary substance that accumulates in tumor tissue and emits fluorescence when excited by blue light. This intermediary enables high-resolution optical imaging of tumor margins with sub-millimeter precision, overcoming the resolution limitations of MR imaging and allowing precise differentiation between diseased and non-diseased tissue to prevent harmful ablation of healthy tissue.
2Measurement precision
If MR imaging with fine resolution is used to define tumor margin, then precise ablation planning can be achieved, but the current MR technology cannot provide sufficient resolution to match the precision of laser energy delivery
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces MR imaging technology with optical imaging technology based on fluorescence detection. The optical fiber probe delivers blue light (400-450 nm) to excite 5-ALA in tumor tissue and detects the emitted fluorescence (530-680 nm), providing sub-millimeter resolution that matches or exceeds laser delivery precision. This substitution of imaging modality recovers the fine detail tumor boundary information that was lost in MR imaging.
3Productivity
If laser ablation is performed without precise tumor margin identification, then the procedure can be completed, but insufficient ablation of diseased tissue may occur, leading to tumor recurrence
Solution Approach 1:
The optical fiber probe provides real-time fluorescence feedback during the ablation procedure. As the laser probe ablates tissue, the optical probe continuously maps the tumor margins by detecting fluorescence from 5-ALA. This feedback mechanism allows the operator to verify complete ablation of fluorescent tumor tissue while preserving non-fluorescent healthy tissue, ensuring treatment reliability and preventing tumor recurrence without compromising procedural efficiency.
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
Enhances the precision of tumor ablation by accurately identifying tumor margins and non-ablated areas, reducing patient morbidities and tumor recurrence.
Implementation Method 1
shining blue light (400-450 nm) onto the tumor, which causes the 5-ALA to emit visible light (530-680 nm)
Implementation Method 2
The imaging optical fiber is configured to receive reflected light from the fluorescent dye
Implementation Method 3
laser energy may be emitted interstitially to irradiate target tissue and generate heat that leads to thermal tissue necrosis
Data Source
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AI summary
Devices, systems, and methods to generate a plan for an interstitial laser ablation procedure are disclosed. The systems may be configured as an interstitial optical mapping system including a catheter, an emitter optical fiber, an imaging optical fiber, a light source, and a processing unit. The emitter optical fiber and the imaging optical fiber are used to interstitially image a fluorescent dye associated with a tumor, including the tumor margin, at discrete imaging positions along a length of the catheter. The processor calculates a location of the fluorescent dye at each discrete position and creates an optical map representing the tumor. The optical map is used to generate an interstitial laser ablation plan that includes laser fiber pull-back positions.