Smart Hyperspectral Imaging Laser Scalpel

To address DARPA needs for a scalpel offering additional diagnostic/control functionalities to the surgeon, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to complete the development of a new Smart Hyperspectral Imaging Laser Scalpel (SHILS) system, capable of performing smart in situ hyperspectral diagnostics of the tissue under the scalpel and of controlling tissue removal in real time. In Phase I, POC demonstrated the feasibility of SHILS by fabricating a miniature, pen-style scalpel delivering multiple focused laser pulses for tissue removal and illumination, simultaneously collecting reflected/scattered light for hyperspectral analysis. We also integrated smart algorithms and a graphical user interface into the scalpel for real-time tissue diagnostics and control of tissue removal in real time. The SHILS prototype was demonstrated on multiple skin phantoms, and chicken breasts, where it made 1 mm incisions with a <0.5 s response time in diagnosing blood concentration ~4 mm below the incision point. In Phase II, POC plans to develop and test with animal models a fully automated, ruggedized, miniature system capable of submicron diagnosis of tissue regions 5 mm in diameter around the incision point, which will include additional longer-wavelength laser sources for new functionalities such as subdermal coagulation for bloodless surgery and efficient tissue debridement.