Tissue Detection Probe for Fluorescence-Based Parathyroid Localization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Surgical procedures face challenges in identifying non-visible or not easily visible areas of interest in the human body, such as parathyroid tissue, due to low contrast and fluorescence at non-visible wavelengths, necessitating a system for efficient fluorescence stimulation and detection.
Innovation Solution
A tissue detection system with a probe, emitters, detectors, and a controller interface that stimulates fluorescence in tissue regions, allowing precise localization of fluorescing areas using near-infrared radiation and detectors, and provides feedback for affirmative or negative tissue identification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Difficulty of detecting and measuring
If fluorescence stimulation is used to identify tissue areas, then detection capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system divides the detection function into separate modules: an emitter module that delivers excitation light through optical fibers, a detector module that collects fluorescence signals, and a processing module that analyzes the signals. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently while maintaining overall system functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Optical fibers serve as intermediaries to deliver excitation radiation from the emitter to the tissue and to transport the emitted fluorescence signals from the tissue to the detector. This intermediary approach enables flexible positioning and reduces direct coupling complexity between components.
2Device complexity
If visual inspection is used to identify tissue areas, then device complexity is reduced, but measurement precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system exploits the natural fluorescence properties of different tissues, which emit light at characteristic wavelengths when excited. By detecting these wavelength-specific fluorescence signals, the system can precisely distinguish between different tissue types (e.g., parathyroid vs. thyroid tissue) based on their optical signatures rather than visual appearance.
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 and efficient identification of tissues like parathyroid material during surgery by enhancing visibility through fluorescence detection, reducing reliance on visual inspection and improving surgical precision.
Implementation Method 1
at least one emitter being configured to emit radiation for stimulating fluorescence in the tissue material of interest
Implementation Method 2
at least one detector being configured to detect fluorescence from the tissue materials in the surgical region of interest
Implementation Method 3
the at least one emitter optical fiber being coupled to the at least one emitter and extending through at least a portion of the probe
Data Source
AI summary
A tissue detection system and methods for use thereof are provided. The tissue detection system facilitates stimulating fluorescence via illumination in an area or areas of interest in the human body, detecting non-visible or not easily visible areas of interest subject to such stimulation, and identifying these areas of interest efficiently. The tissue detection system can employ a probe for facilitating illumination/stimulation of a tissue of interest, at least one emitter for generating radiation applied to the tissue of interest, and at least one detector for capturing radiation for the fluorescing tissues of interest.