Surgical Faint-Fluorescence Imaging With Wavelength Filtering
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fluorescence-guided surgery technologies are ineffective for visualizing faint fluorescence sources such as the autofluorescence of the parathyroid gland or fluorescent probes, due to their significantly weaker signals being overwhelmed by excitation light and ambient light.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for enhancing the visibility of faint fluorescence sources in surgery by emitting excitation light and white light onto the operation area, capturing fluorescence and white light images, performing image processing to increase contrast, and creating composite images with false color fluorescence overlay.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If excitation light is used to excite fluorescence in fluorescent dyes, then fluorescence light can be generated, but the reflected excitation light is orders of magnitude more intense than the fluorescence light, making it impossible to detect fluorescence without wavelength filtering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the harmful reflected excitation light from the detection path using wavelength filters. The filter transmits only the fluorescence emission wavelengths while blocking the excitation wavelengths, effectively separating the useful fluorescence signal from the harmful reflected excitation light that would otherwise overwhelm the detector.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a wavelength filter as an intermediary component between the tissue and the camera. This filter mediates the interaction by selectively transmitting fluorescence wavelengths while blocking excitation wavelengths, allowing the faint fluorescence signal to be detected without being overwhelmed by the intense reflected excitation light.
2Measurement precision
If autofluorescence imaging is attempted in the near infrared spectrum, then parathyroid tissue can be visualized, but the fluorescence signal is orders of magnitude weaker than fluorescent dyes and easily overwhelmed by excitation light and ambient light
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the faint autofluorescence signal from the overwhelming ambient light and excitation light background by using wavelength-specific filtering. The filter is configured to transmit only the specific near-infrared wavelengths emitted by parathyroid autofluorescence while blocking other wavelengths, thereby isolating the weak signal for detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces specialized near-infrared wavelength filters as intermediaries between the tissue and detector. These filters act as mediators that selectively pass the weak parathyroid autofluorescence wavelengths while blocking the much stronger ambient light and excitation light, enabling detection of the otherwise imperceptible signal.
3Illumination intensity
If ICG fluorescence imaging is performed, then surgical visualization is improved, but the bright fluorescence signal can mask or interfere with detection of fainter signals from parathyroid autofluorescence or fluorescent probes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluorescence detection into different wavelength channels. By using multiple filters with different wavelength passbands, the system can separately detect ICG fluorescence (typically 800-830 nm) and parathyroid autofluorescence or probe signals at different wavelengths, preventing the bright ICG signal from masking the fainter signals.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using wavelength-specific filters that are optimized for detecting particular fluorescence sources at specific wavelengths. Different filter configurations allow the system to enhance detection of specific signals (ICG, parathyroid autofluorescence, or probes) while suppressing others, providing tailored detection quality for each fluorescence source.
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 method effectively increases the contrast and visibility of faint fluorescence signals, allowing for clearer identification and localization of these sources during surgery, thereby improving surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
Fluorescence excitation light is shone on the dye infused tissue, causing the fluorescent dye to emit fluorescence emission light
Implementation Method 2
The parathyroid gland includes naturally occurring fluorescent molecules that emit fluorescence light in the near infrared spectrum when excited by excitation light of suitable wavelengths
Implementation Method 3
This slight shift in wavelength is exploited by using a wavelength filter configured to let light with the wavelength of the fluorescence light pass to shield off reflected excitation light from entering a camera
Implementation Method 4
performing image processing on the one or more fluorescence images and creating one or more false color fluorescence images from the one or more fluorescence images, wherein a contrast between the fluorescence light emitted by the faint fluorescence source and background is increased
Data Source
AI summary
A method for visualization of faint fluorescence in surgery. The method including: emitting excitation light from an excitation light source onto an operation area containing a faint fluorescence source, as well as white light from a white light source, capturing one or more fluorescence images of the operation area at a wavelength range of fluorescence light emitted by the faint fluorescence source as well as one or more white light images, performing image processing on the one or more fluorescence images and creating one or more false color fluorescence images from the one or more fluorescence images, wherein a contrast between the fluorescence light emitted by the faint fluorescence source and background is increased, and creating one or more composite images by overlaying the one or more false color fluorescence images over the one or more white light images.