This technology uses a laser to remove tiny pieces of tissue for analysis. The laser is shaped into a ring and can be combined with cooling techniques to minimize damage.
The traditional histopathology workflow, while considered the gold standard for tissue diagnosis, suffers from several limitations. These include the invasiveness of biopsies, the analysis of only a small fraction of the harvested tissue, and the time-consuming nature of processing and analysis. These limitations impact diagnostic accuracy, patient comfort, and healthcare costs.
Current approaches often involve harvesting large tissue sections using mechanical tools, followed by complex processing steps like fixation, embedding, sectioning, and staining. This lengthy process can take days to complete and requires specialized technicians. Additionally, the invasive nature of traditional biopsies can lead to patient discomfort, longer recovery times, and potential complications. Moreover, the limited analysis of the harvested tissue can result in sampling errors and missed diagnoses.
This technology involves an apparatus and method for minimally invasive tissue excision using a converging annular laser beam. The laser beam is focused onto a tissue surface to create a pressure gradient that displaces a micro-volume of tissue. This tissue can then be collected and analyzed using various techniques, including traditional or virtual H&E imaging. The system utilizes cryogen spray cooling before and after laser application to minimize thermal damage to both the extracted tissue and the surrounding area.
This technology differentiates from traditional biopsy methods by enabling the harvest of significantly smaller tissue volumes, thus reducing invasiveness and potential for sampling errors. Unlike conventional laser ablation, which fragments tissue, this method extracts a cohesive micro-volume suitable for various analyses. The use of an annular beam profile, coupled with cryogen spray cooling, minimizes thermal damage, preserving tissue integrity for accurate diagnosis. This combination of features makes it particularly suitable for applications where tissue conservation is critical, such as near delicate structures or in procedures demanding rapid diagnostic feedback.