Combined spectroscopic and video fluorescent instrument for intraoperative navigation when removing a glial tumor

The new approach to intraoperative navigation during glial brain tumors removal is presented. A combined method is proposed for simultaneous spectroscopic and video fluorescence analysis of the state of tissues in the destruction zone using the applied part performed in the form of a neurosurgical aspirator cannula. In the walls of the applied part there are tubular channels into which lighting and receiving optical fibers are integrated. At the end of the cannula, the channels for optical fibers are arranged so as to perform spectroscopic analysis in contact with the surface of the biological tissue, as well as video fluorescence analysis at the working distance to the surface of the tissue. The joint use of fiber-optic systems for recording the video stream and spectral dependences allows real-time assessment of the degree of pathological tissue changes in the field of view of the video system, which are also located in the aspiration zone, with the simultaneous quantification of diagnostically significant spectroscopic criteria. System testing was carried out on samples of human intracranial tumors obtained during neurosurgical operations. During the removal of a tumor from different sites (tumor center, perifocal area), the degree of in vivo fluorescence signal from the tumor site was determined intraoperatively using a Zeiss Opmi Pentero intraoperative microscope in Blue 400 mode. From the selected area of the tumor, biopsy material was taken (presumably homogeneous in its properties) with subsequent measurement of spectra and combined images using the developed device. A high correlation was shown between the level of the fluorescence signal recorded spectroscopically and the brightness of the fluorescence image in the endoscopic channel of the device. The level of the fluorescent signal showed a high correlation with the degree of malignancy of tissues according to the results of pathomorphological examination.