Photonic Pathology System for Unlabeled Tissue Analysis
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current cancer detection and diagnostic techniques are time-consuming, costly, and subjective, often requiring stained or labeled tissue sections, which limits the processing of samples and introduces inter- and intra-observer variations, particularly in the diagnosis of prostate cancer.
Innovation Solution
A photonic structural and chemometric pathology system that utilizes phase imaging and fluorescence microscopy to analyze fresh or frozen tissue sections without prior staining, generating quantitative maps for morphology, cell mass, and molecular content, enabling rapid and objective cancer diagnosis and prognosis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If conventional light microscopy with staining is used, then tissue contrast is improved, but processing time and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical/chemical staining process with optical imaging techniques (phase contrast microscopy and fluorescence microscopy) that directly visualize tissue structures and molecular content without requiring chemical labels, thereby eliminating time-consuming processing steps while maintaining diagnostic quality
Solution Approach 2:
The tissue sections utilize their inherent optical properties (phase differences, autofluorescence) to generate contrast and molecular information without requiring external staining agents or labels, allowing the sample to 'serve itself' for diagnostic analysis
2Ease of operation
If manual expert examination is used, then diagnostic flexibility is maintained, but measurement precision and objectivity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates quantitative image analysis that provides objective measurements of tissue features, creating a feedback mechanism that reduces subjectivity in diagnostic interpretation while preserving the pathologist's ability to evaluate the data flexibly
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates digital copies and quantitative representations of tissue images that can be analyzed objectively through computational methods, allowing multiple interpretations without altering the original sample and enabling precise measurement of diagnostic features
3Reliability
If multiple processing steps are applied, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple diagnostic functions (morphological analysis, molecular content detection, metabolic assessment) into a single integrated imaging workflow using phase contrast and fluorescence microscopy, eliminating the need for separate processing steps for each type of information
Solution Approach 2:
The imaging system is designed to perform multiple diagnostic functions simultaneously - visualizing tissue architecture, detecting molecular content, and assessing metabolic state - all through the same sample preparation and imaging protocol, thereby increasing throughput without sacrificing diagnostic accuracy
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 allows for quick and accurate cancer detection, diagnosis, and prognosis using standard pathology sections, reducing costs and subjective interpretation, and is particularly effective for prostate, lung, and breast cancers, providing real-time diagnostic results within minutes.
Implementation Method 1
imaging tissue sections with a phase imaging microscope to obtain a Q-DIC image
Implementation Method 2
quantifying a microstructure of a biological tissue by utilizing light interaction
Implementation Method 3
imaging a tissue section with a fluorescence imaging microscope to obtain a fluorescence microscope image
Data Source
AI summary
A photonic structural and chemometric pathology system for cancer and precancerous or general detection, diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis utilizes fresh or frozen tissue standard pathology sections without prior as staining or other labeling techniques. The unlabeled tissue section may be imaged, with a phase and fluorescence imaging microscope, to obtain phase differential contrast (Q-DIC) images and fluorescence images. The Q-DIC images are analyzed to generate two dimensional Q-DIC data maps, such as morphology, cell mass, and scattering characteristic digital image maps. The fluorescence images are analyzed to generate fluorescence intensity and tissue native fluorescent component absolute concentration maps. The combination of Q-DIC data maps and fluorescent component content maps is comparatively analyzed to perform cancer and pre-cancerous or general diagnosis and prognosis. The system can be applied to a wide range of cancers and tissues for noninvasive and unlabeled cancer and pre-cancerous or general detection, diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis.