The field of medical imaging is undergoing a significant transformation, particularly in the area of cancer diagnostics. Two key players driving this innovation are Adimec and Aquyre (formerly LLTech), both members of the CAReIOCA consortium (http://www.careioca.eu). Their collaborative efforts focus on developing and validating high-resolution, high-speed medical imaging devices capable of performing non-invasive optical biopsies for cancer assessment.

The Technology Behind Optical Biopsies

At the heart of this advancement lies Full Field Optical Coherence Tomography (FFOCT), a groundbreaking technique that enables non-destructive volumetric image capture of scattering samples like biological tissues at micron resolution in three dimensions. Unlike traditional methods, FFOCT provides cellular-level detail without damaging the tissue.

This innovative approach aims to assist in cancer diagnosis across various organs including skin, breast, prostate, and brain, as well as improving intraoperative quality control of biopsies during surgical procedures.

Adimec’s Contribution: High-Performance CMOS Camera

Adimec plays a crucial role by contributing its high-performance CMOS CoaXPress camera. The result is the Adimec Q-2HFW/CXP model, offering 2 megapixels at over 700 frames per second via CoaXPress. This device boasts an industry-unique high full well capability of 1.6 million electrons per pixel.

Insights from Industry Experts

In discussions with Fabrice Harms from LLTech (now part of Aquyre), several key advantages and applications of FFOCT technology emerged:

Q: What are the benefits of these new cancer diagnosis systems compared to existing techniques?

FFOCT is unique among OCT techniques for enabling cellular-level tissue evaluation due to its unmatched resolution. It allows for intraoperative cancer diagnosis during surgery or shortly after, unlike current frozen section analysis which requires multiple steps and takes days.

The implications are significant: faster treatment access for patients, reduced need for repeat surgeries when complete tumor removal can be confirmed immediately post-op.

Q: What is OCT and FFOCT?

OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) images scattering samples at depth like ultrasonography but using light for higher resolution. Standard microscopes fail at cellular scale due to tissue scattering acting as a “fog.” OCT clears this fog with ~10μm resolution, while FFOCT achieves superior 1μm resolution in 3D.

Q: What makes Adimec’s camera different from general-purpose cameras?

Compared to predecessors, the new camera offers five times speed improvement and three times sensitivity increase. These enhancements better match clinical requirements for both speed and accuracy.

Q: Are there applications beyond cancer assessment?

Yes! Beyond medicine:

  • Pharmaceutical drug development through non-invasive cellular-level testing on small animals
  • Plant stress research microscopy
  • Cosmetic product efficacy monitoring in skin tests
  • Non-destructive industrial quality control (e.g., solar cells, polymer layers)

Availability and Further Information

Both Adimec and LLTech will exhibit together at Photonics West 2015 (Booth Number 4541). Their collaboration continues through the CAReIOCA project (http://www.careioca.eu), funded by the EU’s Seventh Framework Program.

For those unable to attend, former LLTech resources remain accessible online at http://www.lltechimaging.com.

Last Updated: 2025-09-04 20:21:12