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Our clinical studies

The technologies listed below have been successfully translated - in close collaboration with Technical University Twente and commercial partners - from bench to bedside. Some techniques are currently introduced into the surgical workflow, while others are being evaluated within a broad range of surgical procedures and tested for efficacy and cost-effectiveness.

Tumor localization

A surgical electromagnetic navigation system guides the surgeon with high accuracy towards the location of the tumor tissue, while visualizing vital structures around the tumor. This allows the surgeon to find the tumor avoiding damage to critical structures.

Tumor treatment (surgical resection)

Smart surgical instruments with optical technology integrated in the tip are used to characterize the tissue around the tumor. This enables to discriminate healthy tissue from tumor tissue in areas where the surgeon is unsure about the nature of the tissue.

Assessment of tumor treatment

Immediately after tumor resection, the tissue is assessed with hyperspectral and multispectral cameras in the operation room. This is done to determine that the margins of the resected tissue are free of tumor. If tumor tissue is present at the margin of the removed tissue, an additional resection be can performed immediately.

Tracking of liver metastases during surgery

Image-guided navigation surgery allows for full utilization of pre-operative imaging during surgery, and has the potential of reducing both irradical resections and morbidity. This is a study towards clinical implementation of perioperative tumor tracking during open liver surgery.

Targeted abdominal lymph node dissections

Image-guided navigation surgery allows for full utilization of pre-operative imaging during surgery, and has the potential of reducing both irradical resections and morbidity. In this randomized study, patients which will undergo an abdominal lymph node dissection with our without image guidance in order to evaluate the actual technical and clinical benefit of navigation.

Tracked ultrasound for abdominal tumor navigation

Image-guided navigation surgery allows for full utilization of pre-operative imaging during surgery, and has the potential of reducing both irradical resections and morbidity caused by damaged surrounding structures. This study analyzes the accuracy of ultrasound registration methods, which will be clinically implemented for real-time intra-operative patient registration.

Real-time in vivo tracking of rectal tumors

Image-guided navigation surgery allows for full utilization of pre-operative imaging during surgery, and has the potential of reducing both irradical resections and morbidity caused by damaged surrounding structures. This is a feasibility pilot study towards clinical implementation of a new navigation setup using tumour-tracking within the rectum during surgery.

In vivo identification of rectum and colon carcinoma

The primary objective of this pilot study is to calculate the sensitivity and specificity for discriminating tumour and benign tissues in vivo in colorectal cancer patients based on optical spectroscopy measurements. In additon the the spectral differences between in vivo and ex vivo measurements and the difference in the biological parameters (i.e. blood, water and fat content and blood oxygenation) that are extracted from the spectral information are determined.

Hyperspectral Imaging for Improving Cancer Surgery

To prevent the need for a re-excision and optimize breast-conserving surgery, we use hyperspectral imaging and projection mapping as a real-time intraoperative margin assessment feedback system. Hyperspectral imaging is a novel imaging technique that offers great potential for margin assessment during surgery. The entire resection surface can be imaged fast, over a wide field of view, without the need for exogenous contrast agents or tissue contact.

Tracking of oral cavity carcinomas

The objective of this study is to evaluate the feasibility and clinical accuracy of an in‐house developed electromagnetic (EM) navigation system in determining adequate resection margins during surgery for malignant oral cavity tumors and specifically tongue tumors.

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