FLARE® Unique Features
FLARE® is special because it is the only technology that has all of the following features, many of which are patent-protected worldwide:
- Up to 6 real-time, simultaneous video streams including color, three independent fluorophores of various chemical classes, and merges of 2 or more video streams
- Both geometric and mathematical merge capabilities. This enables the use of bright pseudo-colors added to the color video (geometric merge) to quickly find invisible structures, as well as true ratiometric imaging with weighted coefficients (mathematical merge) for environment-sensing contrast agents for pH, redox state, electrical activity, etc.
- Single cell detection capability (<25 μm resolution), yet zoom out capabilities to visualize a 9” diagonal
- Powerful GPIO interface and scripting language
- Ergonomic design of imaging heads, monitors, etc. optimized for human surgery
- Dozens of procedure-specific 700 nm and 800 nm FLARE® contrast agents (drugs) optimized for use with FLARE® imaging systems
- It is also one of the only technologies that has the potential to someday impact every stakeholder in the healthcare continuum
- Researchers: Track stem cells, immune cells, malignant cells, develop improved transplant protocols, develop new NIR fluorescent contrast agents, develop new population-based screening procedures, and reconstruct histopathology in 3-D
- Veterinarians: Enhance tumors or normal structures in order to perform precision surgery on pets and other animals
- Patients: Complete resection of metastatic cells, tactical avoidance of normal tissues and organs, lower long-term morbidity, shorter anesthesia times
- Families: Peace of mind that cancer resection was complete, avoidance of repeat surgeries, potentially shorter recovery times for some surgeries
- Surgeons: Better patient outcomes increase referrals, shorter surgery time may mean an additional 1-2 cases per day, thus increased compensation, peace of mind from real-time image-guidance
- Hospitals: Shorter anesthesia times results in increased OR turnover, additional cases per day, and additional revenue, fewer complications improve Medicare/Medicaid quality scores
- Insurance Companies: Improved cancer resection and surgery with lower complication rates reduce the need for costly re-operations. Avoidance of normal tissues and organs leads to fewer costly long-term morbidities
- Healthcare System: Better outcomes and lower morbidities translate into lower overall costs and improved public health
- Curadel will be working hard over the next decade to turn this vision into reality