Clinical device for early detection of ovarian cancer using optical spectroscopy

A comprehensive, state-of-the-art, fully automated mobile optical spectroscopy system is designed using custom selected, low autofluorescence components to measure calibrated fluorescence and reflection spectra; primarily to determine the correlation between the etiology of ovarian cancer and endogenous optical signals. A series of experimental protocols have been built into the instrument. Nine tissue excitation bands cover 270nm to 580nm and autofluorescence is measured for five emission positions from 300nm to 800nm, with OD5 or better excitation suppression, within 30 seconds. UV exposure at 270nm is at a factor often or better below the TLV set for UV radiation by ACGIH. Tissue reflection measurements are performed above 320nm for assessing absorption and scattering. An SNR of 200 and above is achieved at all excitation conditions. Key emphasis is laid on reproducibility and long-term stability by integrating positive and negative standards that cover the system spectral range. Each measurement consists of background subtracted data collection, and continuous power monitoring. Light is well coupled to the tissue with a probe from a multi-leg fiber bundle with four excitation fibers, and three emission fibers that route the optical signals to the spectrometer. Patients undergoing oophorectomy are measured during surgery in vivo. Histological diagnosis of the biopsies from the probed area are obtained and compared with spectroscopic data. Preliminary results suggest differences in the UV excitation range consistent with tryptophan, collagen, NADH and FAD related endogenous fluorescence. Additionally, stratifying patients by menopausal status results in more sensitive discriminations between diseased and normal tissue.