Optiscan and Mayo Clinic advance digital imaging tech for robotic breast cancer surgery

Optiscan makes significant progress on digital imaging system for robotic breast cancer surgery as part of collaboration deal with the Mayo Clinic.

Optiscan’s collaboration with the Mayo clinic aims to enhance the standard of care in breast cancer surgery. Pic via Getty.

• Optiscan and Mayo Clinic advance digital imaging system for robotic breast cancer surgery

• Milestones achieved tick off all target deliverables at 12-month anniversary of collaboration deal

• Development plan on track with next project phase to take place at Mayo Clinic Florida campus

 

Special Report: Optiscan has made significant progress in development of a digital confocal laser endomicroscopic imaging system for use in robotic surgery for breast cancer as part of an agreement with the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in the US.

Optiscan (ASX:OIL) said milestones achieved to date cover all target deliverables at the halfway stage of the 24-month co-development plan to design an imaging system tailored for robotic-assisted breast cancer surgeries.

The technology aims to provide surgeons with high-resolution, real-time microscopic-level imaging during robotic-assisted surgical procedures, enabling more accurate tissue classification, cancer cell determination and cancer margin assessment.

Optiscan said this capability was expected to streamline surgical workflows, enhance decision-making, and reduce likelihood of follow-up surgeries.

Development milestones to date

So far, both Optiscan and the Mayo Clinic have worked together to progress three distinct tasks covered by the deal including:

1. The need to understand robotic-assisted surgical workflows

Optiscan engineers and clinical staff have worked with leading robotic breast surgeon Dr Mara Piltin, based at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester campus, to understand robotic-assisted surgical workflows and how best to incorporate endomicroscopic imaging within varied surgical settings.

2. Hardware and software requirements

The two organisations have identified hardware and software needs of a standalone imaging system that has the highest level of autonomy from the robotic surgical systems platforms, yet can integrate with as many as possible.

Optiscan said this would enable the company to develop a system agnostic to specific manufacturers, focusing instead on shared functionalities across surgical robotics.

A prototype Optiscan device was successfully connected to a robotic surgical platform at the Mayo Clinic, verifying compatibility with imaging features like picture-in-picture visualisation.

The company said this confirmed feasibility of delivering intraoperative microscopic Imaging to complement standard camera views to surgeons, using the same interfaces they currently use in precision surgery.

3. Imaging probe accessories

The Optiscan and Mayo teams have also developed prototypes of imaging probe accessories that integrate with a range of surgical instruments used for cutting, grasping, retracting, or holding tissue during robotic-assisted procedures.

Ticking off milestones

Optiscan said the 24-month deal outlined a structured development pathway, with clear milestones guiding the design, testing, and validation of the imaging system with target outcomes well on the way to being realised.

Several key milestones successfully achieved include:

• Definition of system requirements, needs, regulatory considerations and commercial opportunities and constraints
• Concept development and feasibility assessment
• System requirements review, techno-clinical-commercial value proposition, product positioning and competitive advantage assessment
• Concept selection, design inputs and enhancements, prototyping and benchtop testing, and project review and realignment

Optiscan said the project had moved to prototyping and preclinical testing as further enhancements were made to the accessory prototypes, before they are assessed by the surgical team in a preclinical environment.

The next phase of this work will take place at the Mayo Clinic Florida campus, with the relocation of Dr Piltin to the site.

Optiscan noted that having access to a second site in addition to Mayo Clinic Rochester had  potential to open further opportunities for collaboration between the two organisations.

‘Harnessing the core strength of both groups’

Optiscan CEO and managing director Dr Camile Farah said the company was thrilled with the outcomes delivered to date from its collaboration with the Mayo Clinic, with material progress made on an imaging system for use in robotic surgery.

“Harnessing the core strengths of both groups, all target deliverables at the 12-month anniversary of the agreement have been met,” he said.

“This collaboration clearly highlights the versatility of our imaging platform.

“It will set the stage for the platform’s application across a range of clinical settings, improving both surgical precision and patient care.”

Farah said that Mayo Clinic’s commitment to innovation aligns perfectly with Optiscan’s vision.

“The work we are doing together aims to enhance the standard of care in breast cancer surgery by integrating state-of-the-art imaging into the robotic surgical process, with potential to deliver better outcomes for patients while advancing the future of robotic-assisted surgical procedures,” he added.

This article was developed in collaboration with Optiscan, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.