Bio-inspired imager improves sensitivity in near-infrared fluorescence image-guided surgery

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Optical Imaging
• Surgical Technology

Background:

• Current image-guided surgery systems are limited by bulkiness, cost, low sensitivity, and poor co-registration accuracy.
• Surgeons often rely on unaided vision and palpation, which are insufficient for precise tissue differentiation.
• There is a need for advanced imaging solutions to improve cancer treatment accuracy and reduce iatrogenic damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an innovative, cost-effective multispectral imaging sensor for enhanced image-guided surgery.
• To improve the sensitivity and spatial co-registration accuracy of surgical imaging systems.
• To provide surgeons with real-time information for accurate cancer detection and margin assessment.

Main Methods:

• Designed a bio-inspired artificial multispectral sensor mimicking the Morpho butterfly's compound eye.
• Monolithically integrated spectral tapetal filters with photodetectors onto a single chip.
• Validated the sensor's performance through preclinical and clinical studies.

Main Results:

• Achieved a single-chip multispectral imager with 1000x higher sensitivity and 7x better spatial co-registration accuracy than current systems.
• Demonstrated seamless integration into surgical workflows.
• Successfully provided real-time identification of cancerous tissue and sentinel lymph nodes.

Conclusions:

• The bio-inspired multispectral sensor significantly enhances image-guided surgery capabilities.
• This technology offers a low-cost, high-performance solution for improved cancer treatment.
• It has the potential to increase access to advanced surgical technology in resource-limited settings.