Light travels through tissue like gas from a leaky pipe diffuses to fill a room. This allows illumination and interrogation of structures within the tissue. Through modeling and inversion algorithms, the size, shape and location of tumors and blood vessels can be determined. (Image provided by Brian Bentz)

A new tool for medical professionals may help shed more light on tumors in the body and how the brain operates.

Purdue University researchers created technology that uses optical imaging to better help surgeons map out tumors in the body and help them understand how certain diseases affect activity in the brain. The work is published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Medical Imaging.

“We are using light to extract new information from tissue to inform doctors and assist them in designing and carrying out surgeries to remove tumors,” said Brian Bentz, a Purdue alumnus, who worked on the technology with Kevin Webb, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at Purdue. “It is a localization method where our technology helps the surgeon pinpoint precise information about the depth and location of tumors. Such information is not easily accessible with current technologies.”

The Purdue technology uses contrast in the absorption of light and fluorescent agents that are introduced into the body to find tumors and/or blood vessels within the tissue. The same technology can be used to study neuron activation in the brain, which can help doctors detect diseases such as Parkinson’s.

Bentz said the Purdue technology overcomes one of the major challenges with fluorescence imaging – the light becomes highly scattered and that limits the information that a surgeon receives.

“Our technology aims to provide more detailed information about tumors for surgeons and neuron activity in the brain, both of which can improve outcomes for patients,” Bentz said.

The innovators are working with the Purdue Research Foundation Office of Technology Commercialization to patent the technology.

The researchers are looking for partners to continue testing and developing their technology. For more information on licensing and other opportunities, contact D.H.R. Sarma at OTC at dhrsarma@prf.org.

Source: Optical imaging technology may help surgeons better treat cancer, brain diseases