World’s First Auto Fluorescent Endoscope

Olympus Medical Systems is releasing to the Japanese market an infrared imaging endoscope called Olympus Gif Type RQ260Z Evis Lucera. According to Japan Corporate News Network, the device will allow clinicians “to assess how far tumors have invaded and therefore how best to treat a particular patient’s stomach cancer. Infiltration of the cancer can be deduced by the proliferation of blood cells in the gastrointestinal mucous membranes.”
Medgadget has learned that the infrared imaging of submucosal blood vessels and blood flows by the device is accomplished through an intravenously administered special pigment that easily absorbs infrared light. The endoscope irradiates the target site with two types of infrared light (790-820nm/905-970nm), and what the operator sees is the auto fluorescence released by the pigment.
The device has not been approved by the FDA, and currently is not for US market.
Product page… (in Japanese)
The Japan Corporate News Network: Olympus Medical to Release World’s First Auto Flourescent Videoscope …