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Physical Sciences Inc in collaboration with MD Anderson Cancer Center (MDACC) has been awarded a research program from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute to develop and clinically evaluate a novel probe for guiding core needle biopsy procedures in various organs.

Since the radiologically identified masses can be very heterogeneous, containing fibrotic and adipose areas as well as necrotic cells or scar tissue, which do not have any diagnostic value, radiologically-guided biopsies can still result in many false negatives. To address this problem, PSI proposes to use a biopsy guidance probe, called “OptoGuide”, based on a novel encoder-based low cost optical coherence tomography (OCT) approach, which enables in situ tissue imaging with micron scale resolution. This technology has been previously successfully demonstrated in an animal model of cancer.

The OptoGuide technology will support improvements to the success rate of core biopsy procedures by providing immediate feedback to the interventional radiologist while performing the biopsy. In addition to improving the success rate of the biopsies and eliminating the needed for repeated biopsies, which will significantly reduce US healthcare costs, this technology will also reduce emotional costs for both patients and families by enabling a more reliable and timely diagnosis.

For more information, contact:

Dr. Nicusor Iftimia
Area Manager, Biomedical Optics Technology
iftimia@psicorp.com
Physical Sciences Inc.
Telephone: (978) 689-0003