Backscattering coherent Stokes Raman scattering (sCiSsoRS) for real-time cancer diagnostics

Introduction

The gold-standard for cancer diagnosis is the pathological examination of Hematoxylin & Eosin (HE) stained tissue. Though well adopted worldwide for the coloration of large numbers of cancer sections, the classical HE-staining procedure is unable to provide fast feedback to surgeons within less than 30 minutes. This latency compromises the efficiency and accuracy of any tumor resection, with numerous negative impacts on the success of the surgery and the patient’s health prospects.

Current Limitations

Recently, the chemical-bond-specific image contrast provided by stimulated Raman scattering (SRS) was shown to be suitable for the generation of HE-like images. However, the SRS signal fundamentally propagates forward and is absorbed in thick biopsies, rendering SRS-based diagnosis impossible.

Furthermore, the SRS imaging speed is still too slow for the real-time determination of cancer borders in large specimens.

Proposed Solution

Here, I want to resolve these obstacles by combining the non-linear optical contrast Coherent Stokes Raman Scattering (CSRS) with high illumination angles.

1. CSRS will permit the generation of HE-like images.
2. It will direct the signal photons into the backward direction as a result of a unique momentum conservation law.
3. Backward CSRS will allow for the investigation of thick cancer samples and enable technical solutions to boost the imaging speed that were never an option before.

Conclusion

Thus, the development of CSRS is not only a scientific breakthrough that circumvents the fundamental dogma of always forward scattered light but will also provide HE-like images of thick samples as real-time feedback to improve the success rate and time efficiency of cancer surgery.