PSOCT Tissue Organization Quantification via Banding Frequency Analysis
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
There is a lack of quantitative tools for evaluating and comparing tissue organization, particularly in unprocessed tissue, and existing imaging methods are qualitative, slow, and often require expensive equipment or tissue processing, limiting their use in real-time intra-operative applications.
Innovation Solution
The use of polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (PSOCT) for in-vivo and in-vitro tissue characterization, where PSOCT A-line scans are performed to determine frequency characteristics of banding, enabling the creation of maps that indicate tissue organization without the need for special tissue processing or equipment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If qualitative visual observation methods are used to assess tissue organization, then the assessment can be performed on unprocessed tissue with simple equipment, but the assessment lacks quantitative precision and objectivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the qualitative visual assessment into quantitative measurement by analyzing specific parameters of PSOCT signals, including frequency characteristics of banding patterns, amplitude ratios, and spectral features. This allows objective quantification of tissue organization without requiring complex additional equipment beyond the PSOCT system itself.
2Measurement precision
If advanced imaging methods like second and third harmonic imaging are used to image collagen content, then collagen structure can be visualized, but the methods are qualitative, slow, and require expensive equipment and tissue processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts quantitative organizational parameters directly from existing PSOCT signals without requiring additional imaging modalities or tissue processing steps. By analyzing frequency characteristics and spectral features of the PSOCT data itself, the method achieves quantitative assessment at the same imaging speed as standard PSOCT acquisition.
3Measurement precision
If MiCASA technique is used to quantifies tissue organization at the cellular level, then quantitative measurement is achieved, but the method requires tissue processing to conjugate fluorochrome reagent and can only be done on excised tissue
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the tissue to 'self-reveal' its organizational characteristics through its inherent optical properties that affect PSOCT signal generation. By analyzing how the tissue structure itself modulates the polarized light signals, the method obtains quantitative organizational data without requiring external fluorochrome conjugation or special tissue preparation.
4Measurement precision
If existing imaging methods are used for tissue characterization, then tissue organization can be assessed, but the methods cannot be performed in real-time intra-operatively
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables continuous real-time assessment by performing quantitative analysis on PSOCT signals as they are acquired during surgery. The frequency characteristic analysis and spectral feature extraction can be computed continuously from the streaming PSOCT data, providing immediate feedback on tissue organization without interruption to the surgical workflow.
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 method allows for the quantitative characterization of tissue organization in real-time, compatible with both in-vivo and in-vitro settings, facilitating minimally invasive surgeries by identifying organized tissue locations, thus reducing trauma and improving surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
PSOCT A-line scans are performed on the tissue using a polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography device
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for characterizing tissue organization using polarization sensitive optical coherence (PSOCT) tomography is provided. A PSOCT device is controlled, by a computing device, to obtain PSOCT A-line scans across a sample. For each of the PSOCT A-line scans, the computing device determines a frequency characteristic of any banding present in a respective PSOCT A-line retardance scan. The computing device controls display device to render a map of the frequency characteristic.