Our collaborator Mr Colin Hopper of University College Hospital, London, with the EX1301 OCT Microscope.

Publications:

Optical Coherence Tomography Aids Cancer Detection
Full paper available here

Exhibition news:

MICROSCIENCE 2008, ExCeL, London, 23 - 26 June 08

A UK opportunity to see Michelson Diagnostics’ ground-breaking EX1301 OCT Microscope, demonstrations can be booked in advance by contacting Dr Gordon McKenzie on +44 121 288 8530 or +44 7973 343414 (mobile)

Also featuring in the Micro Science workshop program:
'Optical Coherence Tomography, imaging where microscopes cannot reach'. Led by Jon Holmes, Thursday 26th June, 12.30 - 13.15, Area 1

Accelerating cancer care with instant imaging

Michelson Diagnostics Ltd (MDL) is developing an imaging instrument for use during cancer diagnosis and treatment. This will, in many cases, replace or improve the current method of taking tissue samples for offline laboratory analysis. The device uses optical coherence tomography (OCT) to provide real-time images of sub-surface tissue at near-cellular resolution without tissue removal - an 'optical biopsy'.

Product

Michelson Diagnostics is proud to present its first product, the EX1301 OCT Microscope (as pictured on the left). This instrument brings turn-key OCT imaging to the research market, providing ease of use and unparalleled resolution in a compact, reliable package.

The unit is packaged with MDL's intuitive 'Image 4' software, optimised to compliment the research user's workflow by allowing access to both raw data and processed images, and automatically storing experimental parameters and researcher's notes.

The EX1301 OCT microscope is also available featuring a motorized stage with system controlled data acquisition, enabling the user to capture 'slices' of data from their sample. These can be processed to produce 3D-rendered images or 'fly-through' videos, or examined slice-by-slice to help find the best match with histopathology.

MDL offers interested UK customers the option of a free, fully-supported 2 day demonstration at the customer's premises. In addition, a rental program is available for more in depth evaluation. For more information please see here, or for a brochure please click here.

Technology

OCT is a platform technology, but initial applications are:

1. Detection of tumour borders during surgery. For example, in lung cancer the drive is the urgent need to reduce the 20% patient death rate from recurrences of the disease post-surgery. 40-50,000 cancer surgery theatres worldwide.

2. Barrett's Oesophagus, where OCT could remove the current need for large numbers of biopsies to be taken blindly when cancer is suspected. OCT could target the taking of conventional biopsies, or could allow in-situ therapy to be applied accurately, saving costs and relieving the burden on histopathology units.

Test program

MDL have two units in clinical testing with leading UK NHS Trusts.

The first is at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, being used by Dr Nick Stone's Biophotonics Group to investigate clinical pathologies including Cervical Cancer and Barrett's Oesophagus. Dr Stone's group have recently reported their first, very encouraging results, and have also published in Biophotonics International.

The second was with Mr. Colin Hopper's group at University College Hospital, London, where they were examining Maxillofacial, Oral and Skin cancer. They have also reported their first results, and a publication will follow in Oral Oncology later this year.

Much more information will follow shortly as our plans become public. In the meantime you can contact us for more information.