Portable Blue-Light Fluorescence Imaging for Cervical Cancer Screening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cervical cancer screening methods, particularly colposcopy, are hindered by the need for expensive and non-portable colposcopes, requiring histology labs, and lack of accessibility in low-resource areas, leading to insufficient training and high false positives/negatives.
Innovation Solution
A portable imager using blue light (390-480 nm) to induce fluorescence in biomarkers for cervical/vaginal tissue, enabling accurate imaging and identification of cancerous or precancerous lesions during pelvic examinations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If colposcopy is used to improve cancer detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential function of colposcopy (visual examination of cervical tissue) and separates it from the complex colposcope device. By using a portable imaging device with blue light illumination and fluorescence imaging capabilities, the system extracts only the necessary components for cancer detection, eliminating the need for bulky colposcopes, histology labs, and complex support infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a simplified copy of the colposcopy examination process using a portable device that captures images of cervical tissue with blue light illumination. The device replicates the essential diagnostic function by inducing fluorescence in abnormal tissue and capturing images, providing a copy of the diagnostic capability without requiring the original complex colposcope system.
2Measurement precision
If colposcopy is used to improve cancer detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but portability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential diagnostic function from the heavy, stationary colposcope system and implements it in a portable handheld device. The device contains only the necessary components (light source, camera, lens) to perform fluorescence imaging, eliminating the weight and infrastructure requirements of traditional colposcopy equipment.
3Measurement precision
If traditional screening methods are used to improve diagnostic accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but accessibility worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal device that can perform cancer screening in multiple settings (clinics, remote areas, resource-limited environments). The handheld imager with blue light illumination and fluorescence imaging capabilities provides a multi-functional solution that adapts to various screening contexts, eliminating the need for specialized histology labs and highly trained personnel.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a cost-effective portable imaging device that replaces expensive, complex colposcope systems. The device uses affordable blue light LEDs and standard imaging sensors, making it economically viable for widespread deployment in resource-limited settings without requiring expensive infrastructure maintenance.
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
Facilitates early and accurate diagnosis of cervical/vaginal cancer, reducing false positives/negatives and improving screening accessibility in resource-limited areas.
Implementation Method 1
The blue light has a wavelength of between 390 nm and 480 nm and is selected to induce a fluorescence in at least one biomarker in cells of the tissue, resulting in fluoresced tissue.
Data Source
AI summary
An imaging device may during a pelvic examination, illuminate a tissue with a blue light, the tissue including at least one of a cervix uteri or vaginal wall. The blue light has a wavelength of between 390 nm and 480 nm and is selected to induce fluorescence in at least one biomarker in cells of the tissue, resulting in fluoresced tissue. An imaging device may capture an image of the tissue including the fluoresced tissue. An imaging device may identify, in the image, an indication of cancer based on the fluoresced tissue.