# Digital Surgical Magnification Device for Lymphatic Surgery

> **NIH NIH R43** · UNIFY MEDICAL · 2021 · $399,846

## Abstract

There are more patients suffering from lymphatic diseases than patients suffering from human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the US alone, 56% of breast cancer survivors develop lymphedema at two
years, leading to approximately two million lymphedema patients annually. Lymphatic surgery relies on
microsurgery and supermicrosurgery due to the small size of lymph vessels. Effective surgical visualization
and high-power magnification are critical to lymphatic surgery. The lack of clinical tools available to lymphatic
surgeons makes the already complicated lymphatic surgery even more challenging. The long-term goal is to
improve outcomes of lymphatic surgery by enhancing surgical visualization. The overall objective of this
application is to develop a wearable high-power digital magnification device for lymphatic surgery. The project
will be guided by the following specific aims: Aim 1. Develop a wearable high-power digital magnification
device for lymphatic surgery. A compact prototype will be developed that offers dynamic high-power 3D
magnification with augmented reality (AR) for computer-aided lymphatic surgery. 4X-20X dynamic
magnification will be developed for optimal surgical visualization of lymphatics. Autofocus and voice control will
be implemented to cater to the demanding environment of lymphatic surgery. Aim 2. Characterize the wearable
digital magnification device and demonstrate its utility in lymphatic surgery. System performance will be
comprehensively characterized. The device will be applied to lymphatic surgery in a biological training model
based on a chicken thigh and in vivo in a rodent model. The proposed project is innovative, in the applicant’s
opinion, because it represents a substantive departure from the status quo by offering dynamic 3D digital
magnification with AR capability in a wearable system. The proposed project is significant because it is
expected to provide strong evidence-based proof of principle for further development and future clinical trials of
wearable high-power digital magnification devices in lymphatic surgery. If the proposed device is successfully
commercialized, lymphatic surgeons and other microsurgeons will have access to an innovative product that
can improve surgical outcomes and reduce surgical costs.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10256159
- **Project number:** 1R43HL158365-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIFY MEDICAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Maziyar Askari Karchegani
- **Activity code:** R43 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $399,846
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2021-07-01 → 2022-12-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10256159

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10256159, Digital Surgical Magnification Device for Lymphatic Surgery (1R43HL158365-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10256159. Licensed CC0.

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