UV Fluorescence Imaging for Tissue Depth Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for structural and molecular imaging of tissues require time-consuming and costly processes like formalin fixation, paraffin embedding, and freezing, which hinder rapid diagnosis and surgical margin evaluation, especially in intra-operative settings, and are not suitable for non-destructive examination of biopsy tissues.
Innovation Solution
A system and method using ultraviolet light for imaging thin, flat tissue specimens without the need for physical sectioning, utilizing exogenous fluorophores and native biomolecules to provide high-resolution images with enhanced contrast, allowing for rapid imaging and analysis of tissue microstructure without damaging the specimen.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If conventional histopathology processing (formalin fixation, paraffin embedding, microtome sectioning) is used, then tissue specimens can be imaged with good structural detail, but the process takes hours to multiple days and destroys the tissue specimen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sectioning (microtome cutting) with optical sectioning using ultraviolet light excitation. The UV light excites fluorophores in the tissue to produce fluorescence emission that can be detected at different depths, eliminating the need for physical slicing while maintaining imaging capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates optical copies of tissue structures at different depths through fluorescence microscopy. By detecting fluorescence emission at various wavelengths and depths, the system generates multiple virtual images of the same tissue specimen without physically sectioning it
2Speed
If frozen section evaluation is used for surgical margin assessment, then rapid intra-operative diagnosis is possible, but the quality is inferior to FFPE specimens and requires 10 minutes or longer per specimen
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical freezing and sectioning process with optical sectioning using UV-excited fluorescence. This allows rapid imaging of intact tissue sections without freezing artifacts while maintaining diagnostic quality through depth-resolved fluorescence detection
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the imaging parameter from transmitted light (conventional microscopy) to fluorescence emission. By detecting fluorescence at different wavelengths and depths, the system achieves both rapid imaging and high-quality structural detail without the time-consuming FFPE processing
3Length of stationary object
If ultraviolet light excitation is used to image thick tissue samples, then optical sectioning can be achieved, but fluorescence emission from deeper layers causes blur in the image
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the fluorescence emission signal by wavelength and depth. Different fluorophores emit at different wavelengths, and the system detects these wavelength-specific signals to isolate contributions from different tissue depths, effectively segmenting the thick sample into resolvable layers
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses wavelength-dependent fluorescence detection to control the depth of imaging. By selecting specific emission wavelengths, the system can focus on particular depth ranges within the tissue, transforming the depth parameter into a controllable imaging variable that resolves the blur problem
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 rapid, high-resolution imaging of tissue specimens with enhanced contrast, reducing the need for physical sectioning and conventional staining processes, facilitating same-day diagnosis and surgical guidance while preserving the integrity of the tissue for further analysis.
Implementation Method 1
utilizing exogenous fluorophores and native biomolecules to provide high-resolution images with enhanced contrast
Implementation Method 2
A system and method using ultraviolet light for imaging thin, flat tissue specimens
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed for analyzing a thin tissue sample and adapted to be supported on a slide. The tissue sample may be placed on a slide and exposed to one or more different exogenous fluorophores excitable in a range of about 300 nm-200 nm, and having a useful emission band from about 350 nm-900 nm, and including one or more fluorescent dyes or fluorescently labeled molecular probes that accumulate in tissue or cellular components. The fluorophores may be excited with a first wavelength of UV light between about 200 nm-290 nm. An optical system collects emissions from the fluorophores at a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, which are generated in response to the first wavelength of UV light, to produce an image for analysis.