Optical palpation device and method for evaluating a mechanical property of a sample material
Inventors
Kennedy, Brendan Francis • Fang, Qi • SANDERSON, ROWAN WILLIAM
Assignees
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Publication Number
US-12253351-B2
Publication Date
2025-03-18
Expiration Date
Abstract
The present disclosure provides an optical palpation device for evaluating a mechanical property of a sample material. The device comprises a body having a sensing portion and a sensing layer positioned at the sensing portion of the body and having a sensing surface positioned for direct or indirect contact with a surface area of the sample material. The sensing layer is deformable and has a predetermined deformation-dependent optical property. The device further comprises a light detector positioned to detect light transmitted through at least a portion of the sensing layer. The optical palpation device is arranged such that, when the sensing surface of the sensing layer is in direct or indirect contact with the surface area of the sample material and a pressure is applied through both the sensing layer and at least a portion of the surface area of the sample material, because of the predetermined deformation or pressure-dependent optical property of the sensing layer the mechanical property of the sample material is measurable by detecting the light that transmitted through at least a portion of the sensing layer.
Core Innovation
The invention relates to an optical palpation device for evaluating a mechanical property of a sample material using a deformable sensing layer positioned on a sensing portion of a body. The sensing layer has a sensing surface for direct or indirect contact with a surface area of the sample material, and the sensing layer is arranged to deform when pressure is applied across both the sensing layer and at least a portion of the surface area of the sample material.
In the device, the sensing layer provides an optically detectable marker or pattern, or a predetermined deformation-dependent optical property. An optical system provides information used to determine movement of the marker or pattern relative to the optical system for a plane orthogonal to a direction of propagation of light, so that the mechanical property can be provided by measuring changes in position of the marker or pattern relative to the optical system.
In further embodiments, a light detector detects light transmitted through at least a portion of the sensing layer, where the sensing layer has a predetermined deformation-dependent optical property. The sensing layer is compressible so that a volume of the sensing layer changes upon axial loading, and the sensing layer becomes more transparent upon application of a compressive load, enabling the mechanical property of the sample material to be measurable by detecting the transmitted light.
Claims Coverage
The partial content provides two independent claims: clm-00001 and clm-00011. The independent claims cover two complementary optical palpation approaches: marker or pattern displacement measured in a plane orthogonal to light propagation using an optical system, and transmission-based measurement using a compressible sensing layer with a deformation-dependent optical property that changes with compression.
Optical palpation device with marker or pattern movement for a plane orthogonal to light propagation
The device includes a sensing portion with a deformable sensing layer having an optically detectable marker or pattern and a sensing surface for direct or indirect contact with a surface area of the sample material. An optical system provides information used to determine movement of the marker or pattern relative to the optical system for a plane orthogonal to light propagation. When pressure is applied across the sensing layer and at least a portion of the sample material surface area, the sensing layer is deformed and information concerning the mechanical property is provided by measuring a change in position of the marker or pattern relative to the optical system.
Optical palpation device with compressible sensing layer having a predetermined deformation-dependent transmission property
The device includes a sensing portion with a deformable sensing layer positioned at the sensing portion and having a sensing surface for direct or indirect contact with a surface area of the sample material. The sensing layer has a predetermined deformation-dependent optical property and a light detector detects light transmitted through at least a portion of the sensing layer. When pressure is applied through both the sensing layer and at least a portion of the sample material surface area, the sensing layer deforms and the mechanical property of the sample material is measurable by detecting transmitted light because of the predetermined deformation-dependent optical property. The sensing layer is compressible such that a volume changes upon axial loading, the predetermined deformation-dependent optical property is compression dependent, and the sensing layer becomes more transparent upon application of a compressive load.
Together, the independent claims define optical palpation by correlating pressure-induced sensing-layer deformation with optical observables: marker or pattern displacement measured in a plane orthogonal to light propagation, and transmitted-light detection using a compressible sensing layer whose deformation-dependent compression behavior changes light transmission.
Stated Advantages
Simplified, lightweight, cost-effective, handheld/wireless operation.
Improved usability/field of view compared to OCT-based approaches.
Documented Applications
Medical contexts including cancer margin imaging/scar assessment.
Scar assessment.
Robotic surgery.
Balloon catheter.
Needle/probe/arthroscope window.
Surgical glove integration.
Contact-lens measurement of eye pressure/stiffness.
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