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Low-cost augmented reality goggles enable precision fluorescence-guided cancer surgery
Leonid Shmuylovich1,2, Christine M O'Brien1,3, Karen Nwosu1
1Biophotonics Research Center, Department of Radiology, Washington University in Saint Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO.
Research Square
|July 28, 2023
Summary
Surgeons can now use the affordable, wearable FAR-Pi system for real-time fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS). This technology democratizes access to advanced imaging, aiming to improve surgical outcomes globally.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Surgical Technology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Surgical outcome disparities are often linked to subjective decisions influenced by training and resource limitations.
- Fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) offers real-time, non-ionizing tumor visualization but faces adoption barriers in resource-limited settings.
- Existing FGS technologies are often bulky, expensive, and require substantial power infrastructure.
Approach:
- Developed a fully-wearable, battery-powered fluorescence imaging augmented reality system named FAR-Pi, based on Raspberry Pi.
- Engineered the device for seamless coalignment of real and augmented views, independent of viewing distance.
- Achieved superior spatial resolution, depth of focus, and fluorescence detection sensitivity compared to current systems.
Key Points:
- The FAR-Pi system provides objective tumor identification in vivo when used with targeted fluorescent agents like LS301.
- Its open-source nature, affordability, and adaptability facilitate broader implementation of FGS.
- Novel design overcomes technical, economic, and logistic challenges associated with traditional FGS.
Conclusions:
- The FAR-Pi system has the potential to democratize access to fluorescence-guided surgery.
- This innovation aims to improve surgical precision and patient outcomes worldwide, particularly in underserved areas.
- FAR-Pi represents a significant advancement in making advanced surgical imaging accessible and practical.
