Robotic OCT Probe Traversing Tissue for 3D Imaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional medical imaging technologies, such as MRI and ultrasound, are limited by size and cost, making them ineffective in time-sensitive contexts like organ transplant procedures, where high-resolution, 3D imaging is needed for accurate tissue health assessment without being portable enough for operating room deployment.
Innovation Solution
A robotic-assisted Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) system that enables 3D imaging by traversing a 2D surface with a robotically driven OCT probe, aggregating signals to create a comprehensive, high-resolution, color or shading map of tissue health, overcoming the limitations of conventional imaging by providing precise, portable, and fast imaging capabilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional imaging technologies like MRI are used, then high-resolution 3D imaging is achieved, but the system is too large and expensive to deploy in operating rooms for time-sensitive procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the imaging task into multiple 2D surface scans that are later reconstructed into a 3D volume. Instead of using a single complex 3D imaging system, the solution segments the problem into manageable 2D acquisitions along a scan path, which are then computationally integrated to form the complete 3D representation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the need for large mechanical imaging systems (like MRI) with a compact OCT probe that can be robotically positioned. The mechanical complexity is shifted from the imaging device itself to the robotic positioning system, enabling high-resolution imaging with a portable platform.
2Measurement precision
If conventional imaging technologies are used, then comprehensive tissue assessment is achieved, but the imaging process is too slow for time-sensitive organ transplant procedures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic scanning along a defined path, acquiring multiple 2D images at regular intervals. This periodic acquisition strategy enables comprehensive coverage of the tissue volume through systematic sampling, which can be processed efficiently to provide timely diagnostic information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs preliminary 2D surface scans along a predetermined scan path before full 3D reconstruction is needed. These preliminary acquisitions provide immediate diagnostic value while setting the stage for more detailed analysis if required, enabling staged assessment that adapts to clinical needs.
3Device complexity
If hand-held manual OCT probe guidance is used, then portability is improved, but localization information is lost making global visualization impossible
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates feedback mechanisms where the robotic system tracks the probe position and orientation throughout the scanning process. This positional feedback is used to georeference each acquired image slice to its precise location in the tissue volume, enabling accurate 3D reconstruction and global visualization while maintaining manual probe guidance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a robotic positioning system as an intermediary between the manual probe and the imaging acquisition. This intermediary component captures and processes localization data, bridging the gap between manual portability and automated spatial tracking, thereby preserving both advantages.
4Device complexity
If limited field of view OCT scanning is used, then device simplicity is maintained, but comprehensive coverage of the region of interest is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from limited 2D surface scanning to comprehensive 3D volume coverage by adding the temporal and spatial dimensions of robotic probe movement. The probe systematically traverses through the tissue volume along predefined paths, acquiring multiple 2D slices that collectively cover the entire region of interest in three dimensions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the simple OCT probe universal by combining it with robotic positioning capabilities. The same basic probe design can scan any region of interest by simply changing the robotic trajectory, making the system adaptable to different imaging needs without requiring complex specialized hardware for each application.
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
Enables accurate, real-time, and comprehensive assessment of tissue health with 3D visualization, allowing for timely and effective evaluation of organ viability during procedures like kidney transplants, which is not possible with conventional systems.
Implementation Method 1
a signal indicative of attenuation of the optical scan indicates penetration of the OCT stimulus
Implementation Method 2
a propagated wave medium that reflects or refracts off anatomical features for qualitative assessment
Data Source
AI summary
A robotically driven OCT scanning and imaging system provides a 3-dimensional (3D) image rendering based on a 2-dimensional (2D) surface traversal of a Region of Interest (ROI) for immediate depiction of tissue health with an accuracy and portability not available with conventional imaging approaches. A comprehensive scan over the surface of the ROI ensures complete coverage, and a signal indicative of attenuation of the optical scan indicates penetration of the OCT stimulus. The received signal for each location is aggregated, or “stitched” together with the signal received from adjacent locations to provide a full mapping of the scanned region, and rendered as a color or shading map for showing anomalies or sudden variances in tissue health.