C12861 Transcranial Photoacoustic Imaging System for Skull Base Surgeries
Invention novelty: A photoacoustic imaging system enabling real-time intraoperative imaging of hidden blood vessels to improve patient safety during endonasal transsphenoidal surgery.
Value Proposition: Tumor removal from the pituitary gland via endonasal transsphenoidal surgery bears a high risk of injury to the carotid arteries that can be fatal. Photoacoustic imaging, a hybrid imaging modality relying on the conversion between light and acoustic waves, is gaining increasing popularity for interventional procedures; yet, its use is limited by insufficient light penetration and poor signal-to-noise ratios. This invention provides a novel, optionally robot-controlled, photoacoustic imaging system enabling the illumination of endonasal surgical sites and real-time data acquisition and processing to enhance patient outcome during transsphenoidal surgery. Advantages include:
- Real-time photoacoustic image acquisition and processing of unseen blood vessels during transcranial surgeries
- Improved image contrast and laser influence with spatial coherence beamformers
- Enhanced patient safety during skull base surgeries, including endonasal transsphenoidal surgery for pituitary tumor removal
Technical Details: Johns Hopkins researchers have designed a photoacoustic imaging system permitting the real-time intraoperative visualization of blood vessels during skull base surgeries. Endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal surgery is a minimally invasive procedure to remove pituitary tumors and reverse disease-related endocrine problems and restore normal hormone balance. To prevent injury of blood vessels during surgery and improve patient safety, inventors have developed a photoacoustic imaging system specifically adapted for use in transcranial surgeries. Briefly, an optical fiber attached to an optionally robot-controlled surgical drill is positioned such that it illuminates the site of the surgical procedure with a laser. Optical absorption causes localized thermoelastic expansion, which is detected by a transducer affixed to the patient’s skull. Lastly, a non-transitory computer readable medium comprising an advanced beamformer allows correcting for insufficient laser influence and real-time image retrieval and processing, beneficial for quick and reliable intraoperative visualization of hidden blood vessels during transcranial surgeries.
Looking for Partners: To develop & commercialize the technology as a photoacoustic imaging system for skull base surgeries.
Stage of Development: Prototype
Data Availability: Under CDA / NDA
Patent Status: US Application Pending, Publication No. US-2015-0223903
Publication(s)/Associated Cases: Not available at this time
Categories: Medical device
Keywords: Pituitary tumor; Photoacoustic imaging; Transsphenoidal surgery; Intraoperative guidance; Ultrasonic wave; Transducer; Laser; Beamformer
