Photonics West showcased numerous groundbreaking technologies spanning various industries, including healthcare. Among the standout projects were collaborations involving Adimec, focusing on innovative medical imaging solutions.

CAReIOCA Project – Fast Cancer Diagnostics with FFOCT Technology

The CAReIOCA project aims to develop a non-invasive optical imaging system for real-time cellular-level diagnostics within the human body. This initiative is funded by the European Commission’s Seventh Framework Programme and involves industrial partners specializing in imaging sensors, camera solutions, and biomedical optics, alongside two medical institutions.

At its core, CAReIOCA utilizes Full Field Optical Coherence Tomography (FFOCT) – a technique capable of capturing high-resolution volumetric images of semi-transparent tissues at the micron level. This technology enables early detection of cancer in areas such as skin, breast tissue, prostate, and brain, along with enhanced biopsy quality assessment.

The project began in November 2012 and was presented at SPIE Photonics West – BIOS on February 1st-6th, 2014 through two key sessions:

  • “Optical biopsy on head and neck tissue using full-field OCT: a pilot study” by F. De Leeuw (IGR) – Feb 1st
  • “Pre-clinical study design for cancer detection with Full-Field Optical coherence Tomography” by A.C.Boccara (LLTech) – Feb 5th

Collaboration with imec on Hyperspectral Imaging Cameras

Adimec is also collaborating with imec (Belgium), a leading nanoelectronics research institution, to develop compact hyperspectral imaging camera solutions. Imec’s innovative approach integrates spectral filters directly onto the sensor chip.

This eliminates bulky optical components while maintaining performance at an affordable price point. The resulting system offers both compactness and speed – critical factors for practical applications requiring rapid spectral analysis capabilities across multiple wavelengths.

Technical details on imec’s specific contributions can be found in their recent press release, which highlights progress made on this joint project. Demonstration units are available upon request via [email protected] or at imec’s booth (#4529) during the exhibition.

Last Updated: 2025-09-04 19:48:15