Grant to help development of Seracam for image-guided surgical oncology

Loughborough University has been awarded a grant by innovation agency Innovate UK to co-fund the development of the Seracam portable hybrid gamma-optical camera for image-guided surgery. The aim of the project is to demonstrate proof of concept for intraoperative gamma imaging for sentinel lymph node biopsy and cancer diagnosis. Application of the camera developed by Serac Imaging Systems in this new setting has the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare system costs.

The project will be undertaken by researcher Andrew Farnworth and supervised by lecturer in physics at Loughborough University Dr Sarah Bugby, both of whom have been involved in prior development and testing of the camera. The team will research and design new intraoperative functionality and demonstrate its performance in simulated surgical scenarios in order to create a new imaging tool for surgeons to localise and treat cancers.

Seracam incorporates molecular imaging technology that has been designed for use at the patient bedside rather than in a nuclear medicine department. Currently, Seracam is in user studies in the USA and Malaysia where it is being used in the clinic for small organ imaging ahead of 510(k) registration. In addition, its compact design, lightweight portability, fused image overlay and performance in spatial resolution make it suitable for image-guided surgery.

Serac Imaging Systems ceo Mark Rosser said: “This prestigious Innovate UK grant secured by the experienced and highly skilled team at Loughborough University will enable us to explore Seracam’s potential as a disruptive technology in a new surgical setting. Improving surgical outcomes is a key driver for this innovation, and this project will enable us to work closely with end users to modify the camera to meet their precise needs. Image-guided surgery presents a significant opportunity to extend the utility of the camera into a new setting, with the potential to improve patient care, expedite surgical workflow and reduce costs.”

Intraoperative radioguidance is a surgical technique that uses radiolabelled pharmaceuticals to guide surgeons. One standard care procedure is sentinel lymph node biopsy, which is used to stage many cancers including breast, melanoma and head and neck; combined these account for more than 85,000 diagnoses annually in the UK. Current practice involves pre-surgical imaging in a nuclear medicine department, followed by intraoperative use of a non-imaging gamma probe to identify uptake of a radiotracer in the target tissue, which it does by emitting an audible signal. The effectiveness of this approach relies heavily on surgical skill, can be time consuming, and becomes particularly challenging in scenarios with uptake in multiple nodes in close proximity. A portable gamma camera with a variable field of view and accurate anatomical referencing could provide an alternative with greater functionality to surgeons in situ.

Picture: Seracam incorporates technology designed for use at the bedside.

Published on page 22 for the April 2024 issue of RAD Magazine.