Polarized DRS Nerve Visualization Without Contrast Agents
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current intraoperative nerve visualization methods, such as ultrasonography, fluorescence imaging, and optical coherence tomography, face limitations in spatial resolution, depth of imaging, and reliance on exogenous contrast agents, leading to high nerve damage incidence and medicolegal issues during surgeries.
Innovation Solution
Polarized diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) is used for intraoperative nerve identification and visualization, employing a light source, imaging head, and controller to acquire and process polarized DRS images, distinguishing nerve types based on spectral markers and polarization data, providing real-time, label-free nerve visualization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If ultrasonography is used for nerve visualization, then real-time imaging and cost-effectiveness are improved, but spatial resolution deteriorates leading to inability to visualize smaller nerve branches
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces ultrasonography (mechanical/acoustic system) with polarized diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (optical system). The optical system achieves superior spatial resolution through optical techniques while maintaining real-time capability through spectroscopic measurement speed, thereby resolving the contradiction between real-time imaging and spatial resolution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the imaging parameter from acoustic wavelength (ultrasound) to optical wavelength (light), enabling significantly higher spatial resolution. By operating at optical frequencies rather than acoustic frequencies, the system achieves sub-millimeter resolution while maintaining real-time imaging capability through rapid optical measurement.
2Measurement precision
If fluorescence imaging is used for nerve visualization, then contrast and nerve identification are improved, but dependence on exogenous contrast agents and surgical preparation complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies self-service by utilizing the intrinsic optical properties of nerves themselves as the contrast mechanism. Instead of requiring external contrast agents, the system measures polarized light reflection from the nerve's own structural properties (myelin sheath orientation), thereby simplifying surgical preparation and eliminating dependency on exogenous agents.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses polarized light as an intermediary that interacts with the nerve's structural properties. The polarized light serves as a mediator that reveals nerve tissue characteristics through its reflection and scattering properties, providing contrast without requiring external contrast agents to be introduced into the tissue.
3Measurement precision
If polarization imaging is used for nerve visualization, then spatial resolution is improved, but contrast and reliability deteriorate due to dependence on nerve fiber orientation relative to polarizers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges polarization imaging with diffuse reflectance spectroscopy into a hybrid system. This combination integrates the high spatial resolution of polarization imaging with the contrast enhancement and orientation-independent measurement capabilities of spectroscopy, thereby maintaining high spatial resolution while improving imaging reliability through complementary information from both techniques.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a multi-functional imaging system that simultaneously provides polarized light imaging for spatial resolution and spectroscopic measurement for tissue characterization. This universal system can image nerves regardless of their orientation relative to polarizers, as the spectroscopic component provides orientation-independent tissue identification complementary to the polarization-based spatial imaging.
4Measurement precision
If optical coherence tomography is used for nerve visualization, then high spatial and temporal resolution 3D reconstructions are improved, but imaging depth and field of view deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by using spectroscopic measurement points that can be distributed across a larger field of view. Rather than relying on a single limited-field optical coherence tomography scan, the system uses multiple spectroscopic measurement locations that can be rapidly scanned across the surgical field, effectively segmenting the large field of view into multiple measurable regions while maintaining high resolution through rapid sequential measurement.
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
DRS enables high-fidelity, real-time, and non-contact nerve identification and visualization, reducing nerve damage by distinguishing nerve types based on innate optical properties, eliminating the need for exogenous contrast agents.
Implementation Method 1
a light source for emitting a beam of light to illuminate a target of interest
Implementation Method 2
acquire a polarized DRS image from the illuminated target of interest
Implementation Method 3
polarized diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS)
Implementation Method 4
distinguishing nerve types based on spectral markers and polarization data
Data Source
AI summary
A probe for label-free visualization of a target of interest (TOI) includes a delivering means for delivering light to illuminate the TOI therewith; a collecting means for collecting light from the illuminated TOI; an imaging means for acquiring polarized diffuse reflectance spectral (DRS) images from the illuminated TOI; and a controller configured to control the imaging means and process the polarized DRS images; identify a normalization spectral marker corresponding to a wavelength least absorbed by the TOI; identify tissue spectral marker(s) corresponding to a wavelength of statistically significant reflectance intensity; normalize the polarized DRS images based on the normalization spectral marker; identify reflectance intensity ratios between the normalization spectral marker and the tissue spectral marker(s) present in the normalized polarized DRS images; and identify tissue types including nerves visualized in the TOI based at least on a threshold associated with the reflectance intensity ratios.