Porous Silicon Imaging Composition for Stable Lung Tumor Localization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing imaging agents like Lipiodol used in video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for lung cancer localization are prone to leakage and spread, leading to inaccurate tumor removal and potential embolism due to low water solubility, making it difficult to accurately locate small and deeply located solitary pulmonary nodules and subfebrile nodules.
Innovation Solution
A composite of oxidized porous silicon microparticles combined with silver nanoparticles, diluted in a glycerol and water mixture, is developed to provide a stable image signal without spreading to other organs after injection, enhancing localization accuracy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If Lipiodol is used as an imaging agent for lung tumor localization, then CT imaging contrast is improved, but the agent spreads to other organs due to low water solubility and pressure from breathing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of the imaging agent by using porous silicon microparticles with controlled pore sizes (5-100 nm) and hydrophobic surface treatments. These parameter changes enable the agent to maintain stability in the lung tissue while providing sufficient CT contrast, resolving the contradiction between localization accuracy and organ spread.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining porous silicon microparticles with hydrophobic substances (such as lipids or polymers) to create a composite imaging agent. This composite structure provides both the necessary CT contrast and the stability to prevent spread, simultaneously achieving accurate localization without harmful dispersion to other organs.
2Measurement precision
If Lipiodol is injected for tumor labeling, then imaging contrast is enhanced, but embolism risk increases due to low water solubility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the solubility parameters of the imaging agent by creating porous silicon microparticles with hydrophobic surface treatments. This parameter change allows the agent to be sufficiently soluble in biological fluids to prevent embolism while maintaining high CT image contrast, thus resolving the contradiction between image quality and safety.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes porous silicon microparticles with controlled pore structures (5-100 nm pore sizes) that can absorb contrast agents while maintaining water solubility. The porous structure provides high surface area for contrast agent loading, ensuring strong image contrast, while the controlled porosity and hydrophobic treatment prevent aggregation and embolism formation.
3Ease of operation
If VATS is performed without accurate pre-labeling, then surgical simplicity is maintained, but tumor localization accuracy deteriorates due to lung collapse and image distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by injecting the porous silicon-based imaging agent into the lung tissue before surgery to pre-label the tumor location. This preliminary labeling creates a stable, visible marker that remains in place despite lung collapse during surgery, allowing surgeons to easily locate tumors without complex navigation systems while maintaining surgical simplicity.
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
The composite provides a stable image signal for accurate lung tumor localization during VATS, reducing the risk of spread and improving surgical success by maintaining image intensity and localization precision.
Implementation Method 1
porous silicon microparticles
Implementation Method 2
silver nanoparticles are attached to oxidized porous silicon microparticles
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure describes an imaging composition including porous silicon microparticles, and more particularly, to a biological tissue imaging composition including a composite in which oxidized porous silicon microparticles and silver nanoparticles are combined. Since a biological tissue imaging agent of the present invention, which includes a composite of oxidized porous silicon microparticles and silver nanoparticles, continuously provides an image signal without spreading in the body as compared to conventional imaging agents, it is possible to increase surgical stability by accurately identifying target tissues in vivo in an affected area.