Hardware and Software Complex for Detection and Visualization of Subsurface Blood Vessels During Brain Tumors Resection

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this work is to prove the possibility of subsurface blood vessels detection during endoscopic resection of brain tumors using the method of endoscopy in red and near infrared light.
 Material and methods: This work was accomplished with an experimental setup, simulating the geometry of endoscopic resection of brain tumor. The setup realizes the backlight of operational field with light from diagnostic window of electromagnetic spectrum (650 1000 nm) and takes photos of operational field. After that special algorithm increases the contrast of the photos and detect subsurface blood vessels. 
 The pieces of bovine brain have served as brain samples. And thin-walled transparent plastic tube with an internal diameter 1 mm filled with bovine blood has served as a blood vessel. The tube was placed into brain samples on different depths.
 Results: During the experiments the series of photos of bovine brain with artificial blood vessels located on different depths was received. For every photo contrast was increased and blood vessel was recognized.
 Conclusion: The series of experiments has showed the possibility to detect the blood vessels with outer diameter 1 mm in the depth of 2 mm and 3 mm in brain tissues using the method of endoscopy in red and near infrared light. The depth of 3 mm is enough for preliminary detection of blood vessel during the endoscopic resection of brain tumor.