South SFV Today

In 2006, Stanford professors Scott Delp and Mark Schnitzer applied for a seed grant from the Stanford Bio-X Interdisciplinary Initiatives Program to explore a new medical imaging technique. Their goal was to develop microendoscopy, an optical imaging technique pioneered by Schnitzer for viewing individual cells deep inside live animal tissues.

Delp, Schnitzer, and their students had preliminary data showing that microendoscopy in live mice could reveal sarcomeres, the force-generating units of muscle. With support from the Bio-X grant and contributions from Stanford PhD students Michael Llewellyn, Robert Barretto, Melinda Cromie (a Bio-X SIGF Fellow), and Gabriel Sanchez, they advanced microendoscopy to visualize sarcomeres in awake human subjects.

Bio-X will host the Stanford Bio-X Interdisciplinary Initiatives Seed Grants Program Symposium at the James H. Clark Center on Aug. 29 from 1:15 to 3:30 p.m., followed by a poster session.

After more than a decade of development, this research led to an AI-powered imaging platform now marketed by Enspectra Health Inc., a company co-founded by the researchers. The technology is licensed from the Stanford University Office of Technology Licensing.

Enspectra Health’s VIO Skin Platform recently received the FDA’s “Breakthrough Device” designation for select patient populations. This platform non-invasively generates high-resolution digital images of live cells in patients, enabling real-time evaluation of skin lesions.

“The device is handheld, like an ultrasound apparatus. The entire imaging system can be carried in a little briefcase,” said Delp, professor of bioengineering at Stanford. “Our vision is that you put it against the skin and you get live-streamed images that will allow a doctor to identify if skin cancer is present.” No incisions or long waits for biopsy results are needed.

“It appears that the technology used in the new device represents the first new physical imaging modality to be FDA-cleared for clinical usage in about a quarter-century,” added Schnitzer, professor of biology and applied physics at Stanford.

The device aims to aid in diagnosing basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which constitute most skin cancer cases in the United States. Delp and Schnitzer believe it can be further developed for other clinical needs.

“Innovations in medical imaging have driven many of the key advances in modern medicine. We’re proud to continue that legacy into the cellular realm of living tissues,” said Sanchez.

The platform combines multiphoton optical imaging with reflectance confocal microscopy. Multiphoton optical imaging allows visualization of living cells without damage within the body. Reflectance confocal microscopy enables physicians to see several layers deep into the skin.

“It can visualize submicron structures,” said Delp. “You can image whole cells and subcellular structures in a living patient in the exam room.”

These technologies are complemented by AI-based predictive algorithms allowing dermatologists and pathologists to conduct non-invasive “virtual biopsies” in real time.

Only a few new devices each year receive FDA’s Breakthrough Device designation, meeting rigorous safety and effectiveness standards. The Office of Technology Licensing promotes transferring Stanford technology for societal benefit while generating income to support further research and education.

This story describes how Stanford research is transferred for societal use but does not endorse any company.

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