SEFC (297470)
https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/297470
FP7 (2007-2013)
Spectrally encoded flow cytometry
European Research Council ERC Proof of Concept (ERC-OA-2011-PoC)
oncology · confocal microscopy
2012-07-01 Start Date (YY-MM-DD)
2013-10-31 End Date (YY-MM-DD)
€ 163,680 Total Cost
Description
Measuring blood parameters noninvasively in patients is of great importance in many clinical applications. During the course of our research in an ERC-funded project, in which light is used to image and threat cancer, we have discovered that the minimally invasive imaging technique we have been developing, termed spectrally encoded endoscopy, is extremely effective for imaging flowing blood cells without the need for mechanical scanning. We have shown that this technique, termed spectrally encoded flow cytometry (SEFC), is capable of subsurface confocal imaging at sub-micron resolutions, at speeds that are sufficient for the detection of rapid capillary flow. Being able to image microscopic cellular features in patients without pain, stress, timely analysis and risk of infection, this technique represents an uncharted territory in medical diagnosis, and would have a wide variety of applications in routine care, intensive care and in the operating room. During the twelve months of the requested fund, we plan to complete a system prototype for future pre-clinical and clinical tests and establish a feasible business plan for further commercialization of the technology.