An Intraoperative Visualization System Using Hyperspectral Imaging to Aid in Brain Tumor Delineation

Area of Science:

• Medical imaging
• Surgical technology
• Biomedical optics

Background:

• Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) captures extensive spectral data, enabling material identification.
• Accurate delineation of tumor margins is critical for successful neurosurgery.
• Current methods for intraoperative tissue differentiation have limitations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a hyperspectral imaging system for real-time delineation of brain tumors during surgery.
• To enhance surgical precision and improve patient outcomes by differentiating cancerous tissue from healthy brain tissue.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two hyperspectral cameras (400-1700 nm) and a hardware accelerator for rapid algorithm processing.
• Trained a classification algorithm on a dataset of over 300,000 spectral signatures.
• Validated the system using seven in vivo hyperspectral images of brain tissue acquired during neurosurgical operations.

Main Results:

• The hyperspectral imaging system successfully discriminated between normal and tumorous brain tissue.
• Thematic maps generated by the system provided clear tissue differentiation.
• Results were available within approximately one minute, suitable for intraoperative use.

Conclusions:

• The developed hyperspectral imaging demonstrator is a practical tool for neurosurgeons.
• This technology has the potential to significantly improve tumor excision and patient prognosis.
• Real-time hyperspectral analysis offers a promising approach for intraoperative surgical guidance.