FLUORESCENCE IMAGING

a disruptive technology

A THIRD EYE FOR SURGEONS

The medical fluorescence imaging devices developed by FLUOPTICS© open up new perspectives for surgeons: a vision beyond the limits of human perception. By using a near-infrared (NIR) optical imaging system, one can visualize physiological and biological phenomena which are not visible to the naked eye.

Fluorescence imaging is based on a simple principle: the patient is injected with a contrast agent before or during surgery. It spreads into the vascular system or the lymphatic system or accumulates in a specific area (e.g. a lymph node or blood vessel…). The technology developed by FLUOPTICS© enables the detection of these markers through a few millimetres of biological tissue and the images obtained are as sharp as those created with an X-ray radiograph.

POSTOPERATIVE COMPLICATIONS: FINDINGS

In most cases, postoperative complications come from a lack of relevant information available to the surgeon during surgery.

Thyroidectomy example

% of postoperative complications

(“Impact of autofluorescence-based identification of parathyroids during total thyroidectomy on postoperative hypocalcemia: a before and after controlled study”, Fares Benmiloud et al., surgery 2017)

WITHOUT

Fluorescence Imaging

WITH

Fluorescence Imaging

THE PRINCIPLE OF FLUORESCENCE IMAGING

1 - INJECT

Injection of a fluorescent agent during surgery.

Today only the indocyanine green (ICG) is usable commercially.

2 - LIGHT UP

Lighting and excitation of the fluorescent agent in situ.

3 - VISUALIZE

Visualization of the area of interest on the display in real-time.

THE BENEFITS OF FLUORESCENCE IMAGING

FOR THE SURGEON

Visualization of biological phenomena invisible to the naked eye. Real-time clinical decision aid. More accurate surgical decisions

Visualization of biological phenomena invisible to the naked eye. Real-time clinical decision aid. More accurate surgical decisions.

FOR THE PATIENT

A better preservation of healthy tissues. Reduced postoperative complication risk. Shorter hospital stays.

FOR THE HOSPITAL

A technology that can be used over a wide range of surgical indications. Reduced surgical complication-related costs. A technology that is accessible to the greatest number.

SURGEONS, VERBATIM

Dr Charlotte Ngo

Gynecological and Breast Cancer Surgery, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France

'The ICG for detection of the SLN in early breast cancer is feasible; it is accurate, safe and cheap.'

Pr Éric Vibert

Liver surgery and transplant, Paul-Brousse Hospital, Villejuif, France

'This device gives us a real-time image. For the surgeon, this is like having an extra eye. It’s intra-operative augmented reality.'

Dr Fernando Dip

Maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngologists, University of Buenos Aires, Argentina and Cleveland Clinic, Florida, USA