Duke University

Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation

Nirmala Ramanujam

Quan Liu

Bing Yu

Mercy Asiedu

Changfang Zhu

Lee G Wilke

Gregory M Palmer

Thomas Francis Kuech

Guillermo Sapiro

Leon McCaughan

Gergory M Palmer

David Katz

Christopher Lam

Robert Morhard

Jonathon Quincy Brown

Robert Miros

Julia Agudogo

Jenna Mueller

The present disclosure provides methods for the treatment of a lesion, such as a cancerous lesion, a precancerous lesion, or a benign lesion (e.g. a benign lesion on the skin) in a subject comprising administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of a therapy solution comprising a viscous carrier and an alcohol or hydrophobic anti-cancer agent, such that the lesion is treated. In some embodiments, the therapy solution includes an ethyl cellulose-ethanol mixture. In some embodiments, the therapy solution is administered to the lesion at a rate of from about 1 mL/hr to about 15 mL/hr.

Methods for the treatment of cancer and benign lesions by ablation

A method for automated detection of cervical pre-cancer includes: providing at least one cervigram; pre-processing the at least one cervigram; extracting features from the at least one pre-processed cervigram; and classifying the at least one cervigram as negative or positive for cervical pre-cancer based on the extracted features.

Methods for automated detection of cervical pre-cancers with a low-cost, point-of-care, pocket colposcope

A colposcope includes an inserter including an elongated body defining an interior space and an image capture device configured to be selectively and slidably positioned within the interior space of the elongated body. The elongated body has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion. The distal end portion is substantially funnel shaped and has a distal end that includes first and second portions. The first portion includes a base at a first edge of the distal end, and the second portion includes a lip at a second edge of the distal end that is diametrically opposed from the first edge. The lip is positioned further from the proximal end portion than the base.

Colposcopes, mammoscopes, and inserters having curved ends and associated methods

Systems and methods for spectral analysis of a tissue mass using an instrument, an optical probe, and a Monte Carlo algorithm or a diffusion algorithm are provided. According to one method, an instrument is inserted into a tissue mass. A fiber optic probe is applied via the instrument into the tissue mass. Turbid spectral data of the tissue mass is measured using the fiber probe. The turbid spectral data is converted to absorption, scattering, and/or intrinsic fluorescence spectral data via a Monte Carlo algorithm or diffusion algorithm. Biomarker concentrations in the tissue mass are quantified using the absorption, scattering, and/or intrinsic fluorescence spectral data.

Systems and methods for spectral analysis of a tissue mass using an instrument, an optical probe, and a Monte Carlo or a diffusion algorithm

Smart fiber optic sensors, systems, and methods for performing quantitative optical spectroscopy are disclosed. In one embodiment, smart fiber optic sensor can include a sensing channel, a calibration channel, and a pressure sensing channel. External force or pressure can be calculated at pressure sensing channel for monitoring and controlling pressure at a sensor-specimen interface thereby ensuring more accurate specimen spectral data is collected. Contact pressure can be adjusted to remain within a specified range. A calibration light of the calibration channel and an illumination light of the sensing channel can be generated simultaneously from a shared light source. Pressure sensing channel can transmit light from a second light source and collect pressure spectral data.

Smart fiber optic sensors systems and methods for quantitative optical spectroscopy

Systems and methods for performing optical spectroscopy using a self-calibrating fiber optic probe are disclosed. One self-calibrating fiber optic probe includes a sensing channel for transmitting illumination light to a specimen and for collecting spectral data of the specimen. The spectral data includes the illumination light diffusely reflected from the specimen at one or more wavelengths. The self-calibrating fiber optic probe may also include a calibration channel for transmitting calibration light. The calibration light and the illumination light are generated simultaneously from a common light source. The calibration channel collects calibration spectral data associated with the calibration light contemporaneously with the collection of the spectral data of the specimen.

Systems and methods for performing optical spectroscopy using a self-calibrating fiber optic probe

A fiber optic probe having one or more photodetectors bound thereto is provided. By directly integrating thin, flexible photodetectors with an optical fiber, the probes provide a compact structure that increases throughput and decreases cost, making it practical for a clinical use. In some embodiments, the fiber optic probes are small enough for insertion into the shaft of a needle, such as a biopsy needle.

Integrated miniaturized fiber optic probe

The subject matter described herein includes an optical assay system for intraoperative assessment of tumor margins. According to one aspect, the subject matter described herein includes a biological sample containment and illumination apparatus for holding a biological sample for illumination by a plurality of electromagnetic radiation probes. The biological sample containment and illumination apparatus includes a plurality of frame members positioned with respect to each other to form an interior space for receiving a biological sample. At least one of the plurality of frame members includes a plurality of probe receiving locations for receiving a plurality of electromagnetic radiation probes. The probe receiving locations position the probes with respect to the biological sample to allow illumination of plural locations of the biological sample by the probes.

Optical assay system for intraoperative assessment of tumor margins

Methods, systems, and computer program products for optimizing a probe geometry for spectroscopic measurement in a turbid medium are provided. A probe geometry comprising one emitting entity and at least on collecting entity is selected. A simulation is performed to generate optical parameter values measured by the probe geometry. The measured optical parameter values are input to an inversion algorithm to produce corresponding optical properties as output. The produced optical properties are compared with known optical properties known and a degree of matching between the produced optical properties and the known optical properties is determined. The simulation and inversion steps are repeated for a plurality of additional probe geometries, each differing in at least one property. An optimization algorithm is applied at each iteration to select an optimal probe geometry.

Methods, systems, and computer program products for optimization of probes for spectroscopic measurement in turbid media

The subject matter described herein includes a method for modeling fluorescence in turbid media and methods and systems for using the model to determine intrinsic fluorescence of turbid media. According to one aspect, a method for modeling fluorescence of a turbid medium and for using the model to determine intrinsic fluorescence in the turbid medium is provided. The method includes illuminating a turbid medium of interest with an electromagnetic radiation source using a probe of a particular geometry and detecting measured fluorescence for the turbid medium using the probe. At least one set of Monte Carlo simulations is run to determine an escape energy probability map and an absorbed energy density map for the turbid medium. An indication of the intrinsic fluorescence of the turbid medium is determined using the escape probability density map and the absorbed energy density map in a manner that accounts for the geometry of the probe.

Monte Carlo based model of fluorescence in turbid media and methods and systems for using same to determine intrinsic fluorescence of turbid media

An iterative process calculates the absorption and scattering coefficients of tissue from a set of diffuse reflectance measurements made with an optical spectrometer operating in the UV-VIS spectral range. The relationship between measured diffuse reflectance and the absorption and scattering coefficients is modeled using a Monte Carlo simulation.

Method for extraction of optical properties from diffuse reflectance spectra

A reflectance instrument illuminates the surface of tissue with light of a selected wavelength and light emanating from the tissue due to reflectance is collected. The angle of illumination of tissue surface and/or collection of reflections is changed to probe at various depths beneath the surface of the tissue. The reflectance instrument may be used in a method for measuring the optical properties of a two layer diffuse media such as epithelial tissues.

Depth-resolved reflectance instrument and method for its use

A fluorescence instrument illuminates the surface of tissue with light of a selected wavelength and light emanating from the tissue due to fluorescence is collected. The angle of illumination of tissue surface and/or collection of fluorescence is changed to probe at various depths beneath the surface of the tissue for a fluorescence layer. Three embodiments of the instrument are described.

Depth-resolved fluorescence instrument with angled excitation

A fluorescence instrument illuminates the surface of tissue with light of a selected wavelength and light emanating from the tissue due to fluorescence is collected. The size of the effective illumination/collection aperture is varied to probe at various depths beneath the surface of the tissue for a fluorescence layer. Three embodiments of the instrument are described.

Growing community of inventors

Chapel Hill, NC, United States of America

Nirmala Ramanujam