Technique for real-time tissue characterization based on scanning multispectral fluorescence lifetime spectroscopy...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Optics
• Medical Diagnostics
• Spectroscopy

Background:

• Accurate real-time tissue diagnosis is crucial for effective clinical decision-making.
• Existing methods for tissue analysis can be time-consuming and invasive.
• Fluorescence spectroscopy offers a promising non-invasive approach for tissue characterization.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel technique for continuous acquisition, processing, and display of fluorescence lifetimes.
• To enable real-time tissue diagnosis using a single handheld or biopsy fiber-optic probe.
• To demonstrate the potential applications in biopsy guidance and surgical margin delineation.

Main Methods:

• Development of a scanning multispectral time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy (ms-TRFS) system.
• Implementation of a self-adjustable photon detection range to handle dynamic fluorescence intensity changes.
• Integration of a fast algorithm for continuous display of fluorescence lifetime values at up to 15 Hz.

Main Results:

• The ms-TRFS system demonstrated accurate real-time (< 100 ms per data point) display of fluorescence lifetimes.
• The technique successfully discriminated between distinct fluorescence markers and tissue types.
• Proof-of-concept experiments validated its utility in biopsy guidance and surgical margin delineation.

Conclusions:

• The developed ms-TRFS technique provides a novel, real-time solution for tissue diagnosis.
• Its ability to provide continuous fluorescence lifetime data enhances diagnostic capabilities.
• This technology holds significant potential for improving surgical outcomes and diagnostic procedures.