€105,630 for the purchase of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging

Thanks to your generous donations to the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek Foundation, Theo Ruers will be able to purchase a Fluorescence-Lifetime Imaging Microscopy system. This new technology provides increased visibility of tumor tissue, allowing the surgeon to remove it with greater precision.

In 20 - 30% of surgeries, either small amounts of tumor tissue remains in the body, or too much healthy tissue is removed as a precaution. Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy can help increase the visibility of this tumor tissue through the use of fluorescent lighting, which allows for greater precision during surgery.

Theo Ruers: “Scientific research has previously shown that the way tumor tissue lights up is different from healthy tissue. This divergence in coloring can manifest during surgery through the use of Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging Microscopy: the surgeon holds the instrument up to the tissue, and the monitor will reveal whether the tissue is healthy. This allows for increased precision in tumor removal, which can spare healthy tissue.”