Depth-Resolved Spectroscopic Imaging System for Early Cancer Detection and Diagnosis

Unmet Need

Colorectal and esophageal cancers rank among the leading causes of cancer deaths in the United States. Early detection through screening is key to reducing mortality rates. Current screening methods, like colonoscopy for colorectal cancer and endoscopic biopsies for Barrett’s esophagus (BE), a precursor to esophageal cancer, are limited by subjective biomarkers, lack of real-time feedback, and reliance on invasive biopsies, which can delay diagnosis and increase costs. There is a need for a sensitive imaging technology that provides real-time, depth-resolved feedback during endoscopic procedures, enabling immediate assessment of at-risk tissues and reducing dependence on physical biopsies.

Technology

Duke inventors have developed a depth-resolved spectroscopic imaging system designed to enhance the early detection and diagnosis of cancerous tissues. This is intended to be used by clinicians during endoscopic procedures to provide real-time feedback on tissue health, helping to identify abnormal polyps or signs of dysplasia without the need for physical biopsies. By enabling immediate assessment within existing endoscopic workflows, this technology could help reduce the need for follow-up procedures and lower pathology costs, improving patient outcomes. Specifically, this system combines the spectroscopic optical coherence tomography (sOCT) system with advanced analysis algorithms to enable high-resolution, depth-resolved imaging and precise tissue characterization. The sOCT system utilizes a dual-window processing method to capture both spectral and temporal information, overcoming limitations found in traditional OCT by achieving enhanced clarity and reduced artifacts. This dual-window approach allows clinicians to view detailed scattering and absorption properties of tissue at various depths, which are crucial for identifying early-stage abnormalities. The analysis algorithms process the sOCT data to reveal subtle tissue differences by examining scattering properties, such as attenuation and scattering power, which are reliable indicators of dysplasia or malignancy. This has been demonstrated at an advanced prototype stage, validated through ex vivo studies on human colon and esophageal tissues, where it successfully differentiated between healthy and abnormal tissue types with high accuracy.

Other Applications

This technology could also be used in detecting and monitoring dysplasia in Barrett's esophagus, early detection of epithelial cancers across various organs, real-time imaging guidance during endoscopic procedures, and screening for gastrointestinal cancers, including stomach and pancreatic cancers. It may also be useful for assessing burn injuries and non-invasive analysis of skin conditions to detect abnormalities below the surface.

Advantages

• Provides real-time, depth-resolved feedback during endoscopic procedures, allowing immediate assessment of at-risk tissues

• Reduces the need for invasive biopsies, lowering patient discomfort and associated costs

• Enhances diagnostic accuracy with sensitive, non-invasive imaging that captures both structural and functional tissue information