Surface and Subsurface Tumor Mapping for Vascular Laser Targeting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional laser-based treatments for skin lesions often cause collateral damage to healthy tissue due to the geometric constraints of fixed laser spots, making it difficult to deliver uniform therapy to targeted areas while minimizing damage to surrounding skin.

Innovation Solution

A system that generates a three-dimensional image of the surgical site to identify and target vasculature structures, using computer-guided laser treatment to deliver energy to blood vessels and halt blood flow to the targeted area, thereby minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional laser-based treatments are used with fixed laser spots, then the treatment can be applied to skin lesions, but it causes collateral damage to healthy tissue due to geometric constraints

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidcollateral damage to healthy tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The laser treatment is segmented into multiple discrete points arranged in a grid pattern, allowing precise targeting of individual blood vessels while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. This segmentation enables the laser to treat only the specific vascular structures within the lesion rather than applying continuous energy across the entire area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The laser parameters are locally optimized for each targeted blood vessel based on its specific characteristics (depth, diameter, orientation). The system adjusts fluence, pulse duration, and spot size individually for each vessel, delivering maximum efficacy to the target while minimizing damage to adjacent healthy tissue.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Manufacturing precision

If fixed laser spots are used for treatment, then the device structure is simple, but it is difficult to deliver uniform therapy to targeted areas

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of therapy deliveryVSAvoidlaser delivery system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical scanning system is replaced with a computer-controlled galvanometer that precisely directs the laser beam according to pre-calculated coordinates. This substitution enables uniform therapy delivery across multiple targeted points while maintaining relatively simple device architecture through software-based control rather than complex mechanical movement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary mapping and analysis of the skin lesion to identify and characterize blood vessels before treatment. Virtual models are created and treatment plans are pre-calculated, allowing the laser to be delivered with precise uniformity to each targeted area based on advance planning rather than real-time adjustment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If laser energy is delivered to blood vessels to halt blood flow, then treatment efficacy is improved, but the risk of treating healthy tissue increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment efficacyVSAvoidrisk of treating healthy tissue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The laser energy is delivered through an intermediary targeting system that first identifies and maps blood vessels using imaging techniques, then uses this information to precisely direct laser energy only to the vascular structures. This intermediary mapping and targeting mechanism ensures that healthy tissue is never directly exposed to therapeutic laser energy, eliminating the risk of unintended treatment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 system enables precise laser treatment by targeting vasculature structures to inhibit blood flow, reducing collateral damage and maximizing treatment efficacy while preserving healthy skin.

Implementation Method 1

delivering the laser energy to the at least one blood vessel to halt blood flow to a targeted area within the tissue region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectLaser heating: Laser

Implementation Method 2

deliver laser energy to at least one blood vessel within the tissue region

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPhotothermal effect: Absorption (EM radiation)

Data Source

PatentUS12390273B2Surface and subsurface tumor mapping for computer-guided laser surgery

Publication Date: 2025.08.19 DUKE UNIV

AI summary

Disclosed are systems and techniques for providing laser treatment. For example, a vasculature structure associated with a tissue region can be determined. Based on the vasculature structure, one or more laser parameters for configuring a laser to deliver laser energy to at least one blood vessel within the tissue region can be determined. Laser energy can be delivered to the at least one blood vessel to halt blood flow to a targeted area within the tissue region.