We are excited to announce that the Colorado State Patent of the Month for June 2026 has been awarded to a revolutionary advancement in medical imaging and respiratory technology. The patent, titled Real-time tracheal mapping using optical coherence tomography and artificial intelligence (Patent Number: 12616371), represents a major leap forward in clinical diagnostics and procedural guidance. This prestigious recognition is given monthly to outstanding innovations that showcase technical ingenuity and offer profound practical benefits to healthcare systems and patient outcomes.

The patented system is officially assigned to Black Fur Biomedical LLC. This system merges advanced optical hardware with cutting-edge machine learning to deliver a continuous, highly detailed view of a patient’s internal airway during critical medical interventions.

Why the Invention is So Innovative

Traditional methods for monitoring and mapping internal body structures like the trachea often rely on static imaging or modalities with noticeable latency. This lack of real-time depth profiling makes immediate clinical assessments difficult during dynamic surgical procedures or mechanical ventilation adjustments. This patent completely circumvents these obstacles by utilizing ultrafast swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT). The specialized hardware captures exceptionally high-resolution 3D images of the trachea at very high frame rates, virtually eliminating the image lag associated with older diagnostic systems.

The core innovation lies in the direct, seamless integration of this high-speed imaging hardware with a dedicated artificial intelligence module. Instead of requiring manual measurement, the AI module processes the continuous stream of 3D data in real time. It is trained to recognize subtle structural patterns, isolate key anatomical features, and generate immediate predictions regarding the patient’s tracheal anatomy or underlying disease status. This transforms a standard imaging tool into an active clinical assistant capable of providing an up-to-date, interactive model of the patient’s airway as medical events unfold.

Winning Colorado’s Patent of the Month for June 2026

The selection committee chose this invention as Colorado’s top patent for June 2026 due to its immediate potential to solve critical challenges in emergency medicine, intensive care, and surgical workflows. Tracheal positioning and monitoring are vital when securing a patient’s airway, and improper placement or sizing can result in severe tissue trauma or inadequate ventilation. By rendering an instantaneous and highly accurate 3D map, this technology allows clinicians to personalize ventilation settings and guide intubations with maximum precision, substantially lowering the risk of complications.

Furthermore, the technology serves as an exemplary benchmark for modern biomedical engineering. By successfully combining complex fiber-optic physics with localized AI interpretation, the patent sets a high bar for the future of intelligent medical devices, making it a well-deserved recipient of the state’s monthly honor.

U.S. R&D Tax Credit Eligibility for Practical Applications

To successfully claim the United States Research and Development (R&D) Tax Credit under IRC Section 41, the practical deployment and development of this patented technology must satisfy a strict four-part test. First, the project must demonstrate a permitted purpose, which is achieved through the technical design and manufacturing of the ultrafast SS-OCT hardware and the engineering of the integrated AI software. Second, the company must eliminate technical uncertainty regarding the ideal laser sweep speeds, optical configurations, and algorithmic models required to prevent image latency under live clinical conditions. Third, the engineering process must involve a systematic process of experimentation, which includes testing various deep-learning neural network architectures, running optical simulations, and iteratively refining physical prototypes. Finally, the research must be strictly technological in nature, relying on established principles of computer science, physics, and biomedical engineering. Expenses associated with the wages of software developers and hardware engineers, supplies utilized during prototyping, and qualified third-party laboratory testing can be gathered to significantly offset the financial costs of commercializing this life-saving system.