ClinAO SIGNED

Project "ClinAO" data sheet

The following table provides information about the project.

 Partnership

Take a look of project's partnership.

Map

 Project objective

Optical microscopes are one of the key tools that that guide a surgeon during the most complicated surgeries and provide the necessary feedback. State-of-the-art confocal laser scanning microscopes and endoscopes provide the most reliable images for diagnostic purposes. However, they are not yet capable enough to be used intraoperatively for high-resolution fluorescence imaging in some of the most complicated surgeries. Ideally, the surgeon needs to see the tissue in three dimensions at cellular resolution. In principle, such images can be generated by a confocal fluorescence microscope, but a key obstacle limiting new applications is that these microscopes are prone to the detrimental effects of aberrations. This means that only the upper layers of cells can be seen clearly. We propose a new technology for surgical microscopes that will use adaptive optics to correct for problematic tissue-induced aberrations. Aberration correction will enable deeper penetration with reduced imaging times that are required for real time feedback and sharper cellular level images with better contrast. Adaptive optics has already enabled aberration correction in research microscopes, however such technology is not yet available for use in the clinic. We propose to develop new generation of adaptive optical confocal fluorescence microscopes and endoscopes for intraoperative use in the clinic. The proposed microscope will enable more effective removal of abnormal tissues and reduced surgery times. The resulting shorter and more successful surgery will have manifold benefits to health and quality of life, not to mention economic savings. The new prototype microscopes will form the basis of future commercial development to disseminate this technology widely.