Laser Speckle Depth Flow Inspection for Atherosclerosis Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for detecting atherosclerosis, such as angiography and intravascular ultrasound, are inadequate for accurately tracking atheroma in smaller vessels and are invasive or costly, limiting their suitability for early detection and screening.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for depth flow inspection using spatial analysis of laser speckle patterns to determine flow characteristics in tissue, which involves processing sequential speckle patterns to calculate decorrelation decay time and perform statistical analysis, providing data indicative of flow characteristics at different layers, enabling non-invasive detection of low blood flow or blockages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If angiography is used to image vessel lumen, then the entire vessel lumen can be visualized, but the vessel wall and atheroma cannot be accurately detected
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from 2D angiographic imaging of the vessel lumen to 3D optical coherence tomography that visualizes both the vessel wall and lumen simultaneously. This dimensional enhancement allows accurate detection of atheroma in the vessel wall while maintaining lumen visualization, resolving the contradiction between area coverage and measurement precision.
2Measurement precision
If intravascular ultrasound is used to image vessel wall architecture, then plaque components can be accurately discerned, but the procedure becomes invasive and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical intravascular ultrasound catheter system with a non-invasive optical coherence tomography system using light waves. This substitution maintains the ability to accurately image vessel wall architecture and plaque components while eliminating the invasiveness and high costs associated with catheter-based procedures, making the technique suitable for screening.
3Loss of information
If MR angiography is used to show macrophage accumulation, then carotid plaque can be visualized, but resolution and detail are inadequate for smaller vessels
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the imaging parameter from MR signal detection to optical coherence detection, enabling much higher spatial resolution. This parameter change allows visualization of atheroma and plaque in small vessels such as coronary arteries with detailed structural information, while still providing functional data about blood flow and tissue viability through the high-resolution optical imaging.
4Area of stationary object
If X-ray, MR, or CT angiography is used to image vessels, then vascular structures can be visualized, but atheroma and arterial thickening cannot be confidently distinguished from normal structures
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs 3D optical coherence tomography to simultaneously visualize the vessel wall, lumen, and surrounding tissues with high spatial resolution. This dimensional enhancement over 2D angiography allows confident distinction of atheroma from normal arterial structures by showing their spatial relationships, morphological features, and tissue characteristics in three dimensions, resolving the diagnostic uncertainty.
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 allows for accurate, non-invasive detection of flow characteristics and blockages in blood vessels, improving the ability to diagnose atherosclerosis before symptoms occur and providing detailed information on tissue depth, overcoming the limitations of existing imaging techniques.
Implementation Method 1
an illumination source being placed at a certain distance from a surface of the object... after being illuminated by an illumination source
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of sequential secondary speckle patterns originated from at least a portion of the object by a diffusive electromagnetic beam reflected from the object
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a novel optical approach based on spatial analysis of spatial laser speckle patterns for tissue in-depth flow inspection characteristics. In particular, the invention relates to a technique for determining flow characteristics and identifying low blood flow or a blockage in blood vessels.