Summary:
UCLA Resident Physician, Dr. Kyle Klingbeil, MD., in the Molecular, Cellular & Integrative Physiology (MCIP) program and Karie Villanueva, MD., have developed a novel image-guided surgery (IGS) modality that utilizes non-invasive, real-time high-resolution imaging techniques to better guide surgeons during operations.
Background:
Intraoperative imaging systems are extremely beneficial for surgeons to more precisely image and visualize anatomical parameters during surgery. Image-guided surgery (IGS) has become a revolutionary technique for the treatment of various hard-to-treat carcinomas. The most commonly accepted IGS technology is near-infrared fluorescence (NIR) imaging that creates high-quality images by exposing a light-emitting molecule, or a fluorophore, under a 700-900 nm wavelength light source. However, there are only a handful of suitable fluorophores; the most widely used, indocyanine green (ICG), suffers from unfavorable aggregation properties, instability, and poor sensitivity. The process of approving new fluorescent labels is time consuming and limits the development and advancement of this technique. Fluorophore-free technologies (i.e. thermoacoustic imaging) have become popular alternatives in recent years. This technique provides enhanced visualization capabilities as well as functional information. However, there is no standardized procedure or system to obtain images. Other high-resolution imaging techniques are either preoperative or operationally intensive to use, limiting their utility. There is a growing need for a novel intraoperative imaging device that can produce high quality images in real-time while mitigating risk and complications of operations.
Innovation:
UCLA Resident Physician, Dr. Kyle Klingbeil, MD., and his colleague have recently developed a real-time, high-resolution infrared imaging technology for intraoperative use. This technology combines existing advancements in thermal imaging coupled with novel applications within various surgical procedures to provide functional, anatomic, and pathological information. This technology is a real-time imaging technique, incorporated into a hand-held device or an attachment for existing surgical devices. It produces high-resolution images and does not require any fluorescent agent, making it ideal in certain instances such as plastic surgery, transplant surgery and surgical oncology. The use of a real-time, high-resolution infrared imaging system during medical procedures can effectively reduce perioperative complications and increase positive patient outcomes. The combination of this technology with diagnostic devices can improve diagnostic ability, as well as reduce operation times. Lastly, this imaging technology is non-invasive which minimizes negative side effects as well as the patient's discomfort and recovery time.
Potential Applications:
• Image-guided surgery: intraoperative imaging tool
• Enables virtual operations, telementoring, robot-assisted surgeries, etc.
• Theranostics
• Monitoring for industrial complex and large-scale infrastructure system
Advantages:
• Real-time and high-resolution imaging
• Non-invasive
• Mitigates surgical complications
• Reduces operative time
• Avoidance of erroneous injuries
Development to Date:
First description of complete invention has been accomplished.
Reference:
UCLA Case No. 2022-296
Lead Inventors:
Dr. Kyle Klingbeil, MD; Karie Villanueva, MD.