Flexible transbronchial optical frequency domain imaging smart needle for biopsy guidance

Area of Science:

• Pulmonary Medicine
• Medical Imaging
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) is crucial for diagnosing peripheral lung lesions.
• Low diagnostic yield in TBNA is often caused by incorrect needle placement.
• Novel imaging techniques are needed to guide TBNA accurately.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate a flexible transbronchial optical frequency domain imaging (TB-OFDI) catheter as a
• smart needle
• .
• To confirm accurate needle placement within target lesions before biopsy.
• To assess the potential of TB-OFDI for enhancing TBNA diagnostic yield.

Main Methods:

• Development of a flexible OFDI catheter (430 µm diameter) integrated into a 21-gauge TBNA needle.
• OFDI imaging core features an angle-polished ball lens with a 160 µm working distance and 25 µm spot size.
• In-situ imaging of an excised swine lung using the TB-OFDI smart needle via a standard bronchoscope.

Main Results:

• The TB-OFDI smart needle successfully provided real-time imaging during simulated TBNA.
• Cross-sectional and longitudinal OFDI revealed detailed alveolar structures in the lung parenchyma.
• The imaging system demonstrated feasibility for transbronchial application.

Conclusions:

• The developed TB-OFDI smart needle shows promise for real-time guidance during TBNA.
• This technology has the potential to significantly improve needle placement accuracy.
• Enhanced guidance may lead to increased diagnostic yield for peripheral pulmonary lesions.