Affordable Indocyanine Green Imaging: A Handmade Low-Cost Camera for Lymphatic Surgery Application

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Indocyanine green (ICG) enables real-time near-infrared fluorescence imaging for lymphatic and vascular surgery.
• ICG enhances intraoperative decision-making by visualizing tissue perfusion and vascular patency.
• High cost of commercial ICG systems limits accessibility.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a cost-effective camera system for real-time ICG angiography.
• To address the accessibility limitations of current commercial ICG imaging systems.

Main Methods:

• Detailed description of the technical components and assembly of a novel camera system.
• Intraoperative evaluation of the system in a series of lymphatic surgeries.

Main Results:

• The developed camera provides clear imaging of lymphatic channels and blood vessels.
• The system achieves this at a significantly lower cost than commercial alternatives.
• The device proved reliable and beneficial for intraoperative visualization.

Conclusions:

• A budget-friendly, handmade ICG camera offers reliable intraoperative imaging of lymphatic and vascular structures.
• This innovation can expand access to ICG technology in resource-limited environments.