Semiconductor Laser Prostate Cancer Diagnosis via Fractal Dimension
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional prostate cancer diagnosis devices using nitrogen gas lasers have unstable output, are large in size, require a long time for diagnosis, and pose risks due to radioactive isotopes, leading to low sensitivity and potential false positives.
Innovation Solution
A prostate cancer diagnosis device utilizing a semiconductor laser to measure fractal dimension values of temporal processes in prostate cells through autofluorescence, which calculates a Gleason score for accurate and objective diagnosis without biomarkers, minimizing invasive procedures and reducing treatment delays.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a nitrogen gas laser is used for prostate cancer diagnosis, then the device can be inexpensive, but the output is unstable due to irregular pulse amplitude resulting in low diagnostic sensitivity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the nitrogen gas laser (electrical discharge system) with a mode-locked laser system that generates stable ultrashort pulses through optical cavity resonance and nonlinear optical effects. This substitution eliminates the irregular pulse amplitude problem while maintaining cost-effectiveness through the use of solid-state laser components rather than gas-filled systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the temporal parameters of the laser output by using mode-locking to generate ultrashort pulses (fs-ps range) with fixed duration and stable repetition frequency. This parameter transformation from continuous or irregular pulsing to precisely controlled ultrashort pulses resolves the output stability issue while enabling new diagnostic capabilities through time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy.
2Reliability
If a nitrogen gas laser and spectroscopy system is used for prostate cancer diagnosis, then the device can provide diagnostic capability, but the device becomes large in size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential diagnostic function by using time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy with ultrashort pulses, eliminating the need for large-scale spectroscopy systems. The mode-locked laser's inherent temporal resolution allows diagnosis without complex spectral analysis equipment, significantly reducing device size while maintaining diagnostic capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the bulky conventional spectroscopy system with a compact time-domain measurement approach using ultrashort laser pulses. The temporal resolution provided by mode-locked lasers enables fluorescence lifetime imaging and spectroscopy with much smaller optical components, eliminating the need for large monochromators and detectors required in frequency-domain systems.
3Reliability
If a biomarker-based method is used for prostate cancer diagnosis, then the diagnosis can be performed, but a relatively long period of time is required to acquire the diagnosis result
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary action by using ultrashort laser pulses to excite fluorescence and immediately measuring the time-resolved decay characteristics. This real-time measurement approach eliminates the need for lengthy biomarker incubation and analysis procedures, providing rapid diagnosis while maintaining accuracy through the inherent temporal signature of cancerous versus normal tissue.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent substitutes the time-consuming biochemical biomarker analysis system with a rapid optical measurement system based on time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy. The ultrashort pulse excitation and immediate temporal decay measurement provide instant diagnostic information without the delays inherent in chemical marker detection and processing.
4Loss of information
If a radioactive isotope is used in prostate cancer diagnosis, then diagnostic information can be obtained, but the patient is exposed to radical rays creating health risks
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potentially harmful radioactive isotope approach into a beneficial non-ionizing optical measurement system. By using ultrashort laser pulses to excite endogenous fluorophores and measuring the temporal fluorescence decay, the system obtains the same diagnostic information about tissue metabolism and structure without any ionizing radiation exposure, effectively replacing a harmful method with a safe one.
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 device provides a rapid, objective, and minimally invasive diagnosis with reduced risk, improving diagnostic efficiency and accuracy while avoiding the limitations of conventional methods.
Implementation Method 1
a semiconductor laser emitting a laser beam with a wavelength of 375 nm
Implementation Method 2
receiving auto-fluorescence generated from the biopsy tissue
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a prostate cancer diagnosis device including a semiconductor laser emitting an laser beam; an endoscope transmitting the laser beam to a biopsy tissue in a human body and receiving auto-fluorescence generated from the biopsy tissue; an optical unit transmitting the laser beam to the endoscope and receiving an auto-fluorescence generated from the biopsy tissue from the endoscope; a detection unit detecting the auto-fluorescence received by the optical unit and measuring intensity of a single photon corresponding to a single pulse to detect intensity of the time-dependent auto-fluorescence (hereinafter referred to as an auto-fluorescence measured value); and a diagnosis unit calculating fractal dimension values of the auto-fluorescence measured value using a fractal dimension algorithm, and a diagnosis method using the same.