Technology Opportunity
Florida International University (FIU) is pursuing a business partner interested in commercializing Intraoperative Guidance System for Tumor Surgery. FIU inventors created a novel way to detect tumors primarily in pediatric patients. A combined point-detection and imaging system device is utilized to detect brain tumors and their margins to high accuracy based on distinct morphological, biochemical, and physiological attributes to reduce the elimination of healthy brain tissue and maximize the removal of tumor cells.
Utilization of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy using long wavelength light is effective in differentiating between tumors and normal brain tissue. Preliminary in vivo studies show that adding regional hemodynamic characteristics improved on differentiability. This enhancement in brain tumor detection will improve patient prognoses and reduce financial and emotional strain experienced by both the patients and their families.
Current technologies for establishing tumor borders are either not sensitive enough and result in tumor cells being left behind, or are expensive and difficult to implement. Due to these limitations, neurosurgeons will often rely on subjective, inaccurate visual inspection. This technology would be an addition to existing microscopes used for neurosurgery.
We are searching for a business partner to further develop and commercialize this novel intraoperative guidance system for tumor surgery as a viable alternative to existing technologies in tumor detection and to exploit its scientific and business potential as a highly sensitive brain tumor detector.
Applications
Pediatric brain tumor surgery, aid in pediatric epilepsy surgery, and easily adaptable to other tissues.
Advantages
- More accurate detection of brain tumors and their margins than existing technologies.
- Minimal removal of normal brain tissue.
- Maximal removal of tumor cells.
- Does not require additional equipment to implement since it uses existing neurosurgical microscopes.
Brochure