Goal
OPTIPATH will enable the first non-destructive, label-free, real-time and 3D-presentation of tissue samples for live histopathological assessment during surgical and oncological treatments. This will be done by offering a first multidimensional pathology paradigm for tissue sensing, utilizing highly resolved and adaptive vectorial light combined with 3D polarization and spectral information.
Objectives
- Conduct a broad study on how different types of tissue and cell pathologies can be identified with vector vortex beams.
- Development of adaptive optical metasurfaces and MEMS for enabling 3D probing of tissues with multispectral vectorial light.
- Harnessing the acquired understanding and developed technology to demonstrate an integrated system for digital histopathology.
Digital histopathology
Diagnosis of disease through analysis of tissue samples is a vital part of modern medicine. However, traditional analysis methods involve many preparation steps and a requires highly specialized experts to inspect every sample. Through the OPTIPATH project, we aim to develop technology and analysis methods that can be used to digitalize and enhance this process – with the goal of making a system that can assist medical personnel more accurate and swifter analysis of biopsies.
Metasurfaces
With modern nanotechnology it is possible to make surfaces with features smaller than the wavelength of visible and near-IR light. By doing so, one can introduce optical behaviors that do not exist in naturally occurring materials. These metasurfaces can be used to make extremely thin regular optical components but also enable new functionality.
Vector Vortex beams
Unlike plane waves which have uniform polarization throughout the light beam and planar phase-fronts, Vector vortex beams are structured light beams possessing spatially inhomogeneous polarization states, and specific spatial distribution of the phase of electromagnetic wave which gives rise to Orbital Angular Momentum. OPTIPATH utilizes the interaction of such beams with complex biological tissues to provide detailed polarization resolved imaging.
MEMS
Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems, or MEMS, are small mechanical systems that can interface with electronics to enable controlled movement of the system, or alternatively to read out the a movement caused by the surroundings. In this way MEMS can be used to make both sensors and systems. In OPTIPATH these devices will be combined with optical metasurfaces to develop the technology required for a compact digital histopathology system.
The OPTIPATH project is supported by the European Innovation Council through the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101185769.
See more information on the Cordis website: https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/101185769