Hexachromatic Camera Visualizes Cancer Cells During Surgery
By MedImaging International staff writers Posted on 29 Jun 2021 |
Image: Mantis shrimp can perceive a wider range of colors than humans (Photo courtesy of UIL)
A new intrasurgical camera inspired by the eyes of the Mantis shrimp provides further insights during cancer tumor surgery.
Developed at the University of Illinois (UIL; Urbana-Champaign, USA), Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM; Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia), and other institutions, the new camera replicates the Mantis shrimp’s visual system by providing a six-channel single-chip, combined color/near-infrared (NIR) image sensor that integrates arrays of vertically stacked silicon photodetectors and pixelated spectral filters to enable fluorescence image guidance during surgery, permitting an intuitive perspective of the surgical procedure.
The image sensor enabled simultaneous detection of two tumor-targeted fluorophores in athemic mice, distinguishing diseased from healthy tissue in 92% of cases. It also permitted extraction of NIR structured illumination, enabling the topographical mapping of tumors and surgical sites to within 1.2 mm error. In the operating room, during surgical resection in 18 patients with breast cancer, the sensor enabled sentinel lymph node mapping using clinically approved NIR fluorophores. The study was published on May 5, 2021, in Science Translational Medicine.
“The mantis shrimp has these incredible eyes. Humans perceive three colors – red, green, and blue – because of a single layer of light-sensitive cone cells that line our retina, but the mantis shrimp perceives upward of 12 colors thanks to the stacks of light-sensitive cells at the tip of its eye,” said lead author Steven Blair, MSc, an electrical and computer engineering graduate student at UIL. “The mantis shrimp’s little eyes can thus see things that humans can’t imagine – and do so in a fraction of the space.”
“The combination of this bioinspired camera and emerging tumor-targeted drugs will ensure that surgeons leave no cancer cells behind in the patient’s body,” said Professor Goran Kondov, MD, of UKIM, who demonstrated the technology in the operating room. “This additional set of eyes will help prevent recurrence of the disease, providing patients a quicker and easier path to recovery. And the device can potentially be manufactured at low cost since it is so simple, making it accessible to hospitals around the world. “
Many insects have a pair of compound eyes, such as dragonflies, bees, fruit-flies, grasshoppers, and mantis shrimp, among others. The compound eye of these insects, which is a sophisticated imaging device that consists of a mosaic of tiny optical units called ommatidia, allows them to see a different world from humans. For example, the compound eyes of bees can see ultraviolet (UV) light, making it easier to distinguish whether flowers are rich in nectar. The compound eyes of Mantis shrimp can not only detect multispectral information, but also recognize polarized light.
Related Links:
University of Illinois
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University
Developed at the University of Illinois (UIL; Urbana-Champaign, USA), Ss. Cyril and Methodius University (UKIM; Skopje, Republic of North Macedonia), and other institutions, the new camera replicates the Mantis shrimp’s visual system by providing a six-channel single-chip, combined color/near-infrared (NIR) image sensor that integrates arrays of vertically stacked silicon photodetectors and pixelated spectral filters to enable fluorescence image guidance during surgery, permitting an intuitive perspective of the surgical procedure.
The image sensor enabled simultaneous detection of two tumor-targeted fluorophores in athemic mice, distinguishing diseased from healthy tissue in 92% of cases. It also permitted extraction of NIR structured illumination, enabling the topographical mapping of tumors and surgical sites to within 1.2 mm error. In the operating room, during surgical resection in 18 patients with breast cancer, the sensor enabled sentinel lymph node mapping using clinically approved NIR fluorophores. The study was published on May 5, 2021, in Science Translational Medicine.
“The mantis shrimp has these incredible eyes. Humans perceive three colors – red, green, and blue – because of a single layer of light-sensitive cone cells that line our retina, but the mantis shrimp perceives upward of 12 colors thanks to the stacks of light-sensitive cells at the tip of its eye,” said lead author Steven Blair, MSc, an electrical and computer engineering graduate student at UIL. “The mantis shrimp’s little eyes can thus see things that humans can’t imagine – and do so in a fraction of the space.”
“The combination of this bioinspired camera and emerging tumor-targeted drugs will ensure that surgeons leave no cancer cells behind in the patient’s body,” said Professor Goran Kondov, MD, of UKIM, who demonstrated the technology in the operating room. “This additional set of eyes will help prevent recurrence of the disease, providing patients a quicker and easier path to recovery. And the device can potentially be manufactured at low cost since it is so simple, making it accessible to hospitals around the world. “
Many insects have a pair of compound eyes, such as dragonflies, bees, fruit-flies, grasshoppers, and mantis shrimp, among others. The compound eye of these insects, which is a sophisticated imaging device that consists of a mosaic of tiny optical units called ommatidia, allows them to see a different world from humans. For example, the compound eyes of bees can see ultraviolet (UV) light, making it easier to distinguish whether flowers are rich in nectar. The compound eyes of Mantis shrimp can not only detect multispectral information, but also recognize polarized light.
Related Links:
University of Illinois
Ss. Cyril and Methodius University
Latest General/Advanced Imaging News
- Artificial Intelligence Evaluates Cardiovascular Risk from CT Scans
- New AI Method Captures Uncertainty in Medical Images
- CT Coronary Angiography Reduces Need for Invasive Tests to Diagnose Coronary Artery Disease
- Novel Blood Test Could Reduce Need for PET Imaging of Patients with Alzheimer’s
- CT-Based Deep Learning Algorithm Accurately Differentiates Benign From Malignant Vertebral Fractures
- Minimally Invasive Procedure Could Help Patients Avoid Thyroid Surgery
- Self-Driving Mobile C-Arm Reduces Imaging Time during Surgery
- AR Application Turns Medical Scans Into Holograms for Assistance in Surgical Planning
- Imaging Technology Provides Ground-Breaking New Approach for Diagnosing and Treating Bowel Cancer
- CT Coronary Calcium Scoring Predicts Heart Attacks and Strokes
- AI Model Detects 90% of Lymphatic Cancer Cases from PET and CT Images
- Breakthrough Technology Revolutionizes Breast Imaging
- State-Of-The-Art System Enhances Accuracy of Image-Guided Diagnostic and Interventional Procedures
- Catheter-Based Device with New Cardiovascular Imaging Approach Offers Unprecedented View of Dangerous Plaques
- AI Model Draws Maps to Accurately Identify Tumors and Diseases in Medical Images
- AI-Enabled CT System Provides More Accurate and Reliable Imaging Results