Development of a visually guided Raman spectroscopy probe for cervical assessment during pregnancy

Abstract

Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of neonatal death, however, accurate prediction methods do not exist. Detection of early changes in the cervix, an organ that biochemically remodels to deliver the fetus, has potential to predict PTB risk. Researchers have employed light-based methods to monitor biochemical changes in the cervix during pregnancy, however, these approaches required patients to undergo a speculum examination which many patients find uncomfortable and is not standard practice during prenatal care. Herein, a visually guided optical probe is presented that measures the cervix via introduction by bimanual examination, a procedure that is commonly performed during prenatal visits and labor for tactile monitoring of the cervix. The device incorporates a Raman spectroscopy probe for biochemical monitoring and a camera for visualizing measurement location to ensure it is void of cervical mucus and blood. This probe was tested in 15 patients receiving obstetric and gynecological care, and results acquired with and without a speculum revealed similar spectra, demonstrating that the visually guided probe conserved data quality. Additionally, the majority of patients reported reduced discomfort from the device. In summary, the visual guidance probe successfully measured the cervix while integrating with standard prenatal care, reducing a barrier in clinical translation.

Vibrational Spectroscopy: A Valuable Screening and Diagnostic Tool for Obstetric Disorders?

“…The use of Raman spectroscopy in understanding biochemical cervical changes has also translated into humans revealing that cervical extracellular matrix proteins (at wavenumbers 1,248 and 1,254 cm −1 ) decrease throughout gestation, while unidentified blood components (at 1,233 and 1,563 cm −1 ) increase ( 74 ). Recently, a visually guided Raman spectroscopy probe which integrates into standard prenatal care has been developed for the measurement of biochemical changes of the cervix for the prediction of preterm birth, which may assist in the translation of such a device into obstetric care ( 75 ). As the search for alternative and novel screening methods for PE continues, the possibility that vibrational spectroscopy might address these needs has been considered.…”

Feature Selection and Rapid Characterization of Bloodstains on Different Substrates

“…[9][10][11][12] Raman spectroscopy is based on inelastic scattering of light by molecules and provides a molecular fingerprint that represents the vibrational modes in those molecules. 13,14 The advent of fiber probes 14,15 and portable instruments 16 can now ensure easy implementation of Raman spectroscopy in the field as a nondestructive and rapid technique. This is a key reason for the extensive exploration of Raman spectroscopy in the field of forensic science.…”