Smart Prostate Imaging Platform
In prostate cancer surgeries, it is important to remove all the cancerous tissue without taking too much healthy tissue. Tulane researchers have introduced a promising solution by an automated positioning system for an advanced structured illumination microscopy (sim) system to maximize prostatectomy surgical margins in prostate cancer patients.
The Problem
In prostate cancer surgeries, it is important to remove all the cancerous tissue without taking too much healthy tissue. Existing tools for visualizing the edges of a tumor can be slow or incomplete, which puts patients at risk for either incomplete removal or unnecessary damage. Surgeons need a faster, more accurate way to see where cancer stops and healthy tissue begins so they can make better decisions in the operating room and improve patient outcomes.
The Solution
Tulane researchers have introduced a promising solution by an automated positioning system for an advanced structured illumination microscopy (SIM) system to maximize prostatectomy surgical margins in prostate cancer patients. It precisely lifts, lowers, and rotates the prostate on the microscope platform and prevents tissue destruction. It also uses a 3D scanner to establish the prostate's surface area, which enables the accurate identification of surgical margins. The technology is at an ex vivo laboratory testing stage of development and has been tested with intact prostates extracted from patients. Data from the laboratory show a significant decrease in imaging time and improvements in surface area coverage compared to previous methods.
The Opportunity
This technology is well-positioned to support translational research and early-stage product development in both academic and commercial settings.
