Prostate Biopsy Guidance via Statistical Cancer Probability Maps
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current prostate biopsy methods, such as random sampling, result in high false negative detection rates due to the inability to accurately identify cancerous tissue sites, leading to increased patient anxiety, healthcare costs, and delayed cancer diagnosis.
Innovation Solution
The integration of statistical data and probability maps based on demographic characteristics into 3D ultrasound images to guide biopsy needles to regions with higher cancer probabilities, using shape models and cancer probability atlases to overlay relevant information onto patient images for targeted sampling.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If random sampling biopsy is performed, then biopsy procedure is simple to perform, but cancer detection accuracy deteriorates with high false negative rates
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by acquiring 3D ultrasound images of the prostate before biopsy, processing these images to identify suspicious regions, and generating visual overlays that guide the biopsy procedure. This preliminary imaging and analysis phase enables targeted sampling without complicating the actual biopsy execution.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary system consisting of image processing algorithms and visual overlay generation that acts as a mediator between the ultrasound imaging and biopsy sampling. This intermediary processing layer identifies suspicious regions and guides needle placement, improving detection accuracy while maintaining procedural simplicity.
2Measurement precision
If more biopsy cores are obtained from additional regions, then cancer detection rate improves, but procedure complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies local quality by differentiating between various regions of the prostate and identifying specific suspicious areas that require sampling. Instead of uniform sampling across all regions, the system focuses biopsy efforts on locally identified high-risk zones, improving detection efficiency without requiring excessive cores from all areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The image processing and suspicious region identification is performed as a preliminary action before the biopsy procedure begins. This pre-planning phase maps out target regions, allowing the physician to efficiently obtain targeted samples without needing to perform extensive exploratory biopsies during the procedure itself.
3Measurement precision
If multiple biopsies are performed to reduce false negatives, then cancer detection improves, but patient anxiety and healthcare costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary 3D imaging and suspicious region identification before the biopsy procedure, allowing for targeted sampling in a single procedure. This pre-planning reduces the likelihood of negative biopsies that would require repeat procedures, thereby reducing patient anxiety and time to diagnosis while maintaining high detection 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 improves the effectiveness of biopsy procedures by accurately identifying and targeting regions with higher cancer likelihood, reducing false negative rates and enhancing cancer detection during initial biopsies.
Implementation Method 1
obtaining an ultrasound image of a prostate of a patient
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method (i.e, utility) are disclosed for positioning a needle in three-dimensions based on patient related statistics for extracting tissue during biopsy procedures. Aspects of the utility can be applied independently or serve as an aid to the urologist when regions of interest are hard to discern in an ultrasound image. Regions of interest that correspond to high cancer risk regions (e.g., statistically) are automatically superimposed on an ultrasound image of a patient in real time. Additionally a statistical map based on one or more demographic parameters of a patient and containing cancer probability locations are also automatically mapped on the ultrasound image in real time displaying potential cancer locations. Aspects of the system are also capable of displaying optimal needle placement positions based on statistical priors and will be able to accurately navigate the needle to that position for biopsy extraction and/or treatment.