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Live images in the operating theatre

The art of a successful breast cancer operation lies in being able to remove as much cancerous tissue as possible and avoid the formation of metastases. Unfortunately, this is not achieved in approximately 40% of cases, increasing the risk of relapse for patients and possibly necessitating a second operation. In order to make primary operations more successful, scientists at the Helmholtz Zentrum München have developed an innovative imaging technology. During the operation, the surgeon is provided with live images of the previously fluorescence-labelled tumour tissue, so that it can be exactly localized and precisely removed. The technology has been advanced to first clinical trials by SurgVision, a start-up from the Helmholtz Zentrum. Ascenion supported the founding of the company in 2013, and negotiated the licence for the required technology. In 2017, the start-up was acquired by Bracco Imaging, a specialist in the field of diagnostic imaging. Bracco will continue the development of this technology and undertake further clinical validation, in order to market the technology as a medical product. Bracco is active in over 100 countries worldwide, and therefore an ideal partner for making the technology available to surgeons and patients. Ascenion‘s revenues from the sale of its equity in SurgVision have been distributed to the LifeScience Foundation for the Promotion of Science and Research.

(Annual Review 2017)