# Blood Flow Imaging for Minimally Invasive Surgeryhttps://apps.era.nih.gov/grantfolder/viewInternalGF.era?applId=10008550

> **NIH NIH R43** · VASOPTIC MEDICAL, INC. · 2020 · $256,132

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
Commercially available endoscopes and laparoscopes today are sophisticated in their ability to capture high
definition photographs and video feeds of the tissue underlying the probe tip, but lack the ability to provide
information about the functional status of the same tissue. Therefore, surgeons performing laparoscopic
surgeries often have to rely on subjective cues for decision making. For example, during a pediatric surgery
undertaken to resect a portion of the colon while sparing the healthy regions, the surgeon could benefit from the
ability to confirm that the resection margins are chosen optimally and that tissue perfusion and viability has been
intact or restored. Leveraging proprietary speckle-based and spectroscopy-based imaging technology, this
project seeks to develop the first endoscopic tool that will complement the view of the surgical site with
information pertaining to blood flow and tissue oxygenation on an as-needed basis. Because functional
information will be available without the need for administering any exogenous contrast agents, the advanced
endoscopic tool is expected to be unobtrusive and seamlessly integrate into the surgical work flow. Further, the
disposable probe design will eliminate the need for sterilization of the probe between uses reducing the risk of
contamination and infection. During Phase I, we will overcome hardware and software design challenges in
speckle imaging technology to realize a first-of-its-kind flow-measuring endoscope and characterize its
performance using appropriate phantom flow systems. We will subsequently validate the prototype's ability to
perform endoscopic visualization of resting state and altered blood flow in a large animal model of laparoscopy.
If successful, we anticipate undertaking a Phase II effort, during which we will make a robust and optimized tool
for use in pediatric procedures such as bowel resection and Ladd's procedure, and validate its benefits to the
operating surgeon through experimentation in large animal models of pediatric bowel resection and manipulation.
Having statistically demonstrated improved outcomes, we will develop a clinical grade prototype and obtain first-
in-human data during a laparoscopic procedure. This project, thereby, aims to the lay the foundation of the next
generation of endoscopy – functional endoscopy.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10008550
- **Project number:** 1R43EB029269-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** VASOPTIC MEDICAL, INC.
- **Principal Investigator:** Abhishek Rege
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $256,132
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2020-09-01 → 2023-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10008550

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10008550, Blood Flow Imaging for Minimally Invasive Surgeryhttps://apps.era.nih.gov/grantfolder/viewInternalGF.era?applId=10008550 (1R43EB029269-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10008550. Licensed CC0.

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