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Multimodal Imaging and Spectroscopy Fiber-bundle Microendoscopy Platform for Non-invasive, In Vivo Tissue Analysis
Published on: October 17, 2016
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A handheld fiber-optic tissue sensing device for spine surgery.
Merle S Losch1, Benjamin E Visser1, Jenny Dankelman1
1Department of Biomechanical Engineering, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Delft University of Technology, Delft, The Netherlands.
Plos One
|December 19, 2024
Summary
This study presents a handheld fiber-optic device for real-time bone tissue differentiation during spinal fusion surgery. The device uses diffuse reflectance spectroscopy to enhance surgical accuracy and prevent pedicle screw misplacement.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Surgical Technology
- Medical Devices
Background:
- Increasing demand for surgical interventions due to demographic shifts and age-related degenerative diseases.
- Spinal fusion procedures require accurate pedicle screw placement, which is dependent on surgeon experience.
- Current methods lack real-time intraoperative feedback for tissue differentiation, increasing the risk of screw misplacement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a handheld fiber-optic tissue sensing device for real-time bone tissue differentiation during spine surgery.
- To provide surgeons with enhanced intraoperative information to improve pedicle screw placement accuracy.
- To demonstrate the feasibility of using diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) for distinguishing bone tissues in real-time.
Main Methods:
- A prototype handheld device utilizing two distinct wavelengths of laser diodes for tissue illumination.
- Direct light collection with a photodiode, eliminating the need for a spectrometer.
- A printed circuit board (PCB) with adjustable driver circuits and signal amplification, controlled by a microcontroller.
- Computation of a reflectance ratio from photodiode signals to provide real-time audio feedback.
Main Results:
- The prototype successfully emitted and collected light to differentiate bone tissues using DRS, demonstrating feasibility.
- The device provides fast, real-time audio feedback to surgeons.
- Despite challenges in fiber-coupling efficiency, the device proved capable of distinguishing bone tissues.
Conclusions:
- The developed handheld fiber-optic tissue sensing device is a feasible proof-of-concept for enhancing surgical accuracy in spinal fusion.
- The compact, low-cost, and readily available components make it suitable for various healthcare settings.
- Real-time tissue differentiation via DRS has the potential to significantly reduce pedicle screw misplacement during spinal fusion procedures.
