€1 million grant for Twente device that makes tissue blood flow visible

A consortium of regional companies and the University of Twente has received a grant of  €1 million from the European Regional Development Fund (EFRO). With this funding, the companies Twente Medical Optics and Beeliners will develop their first commercial prototype of a handheld medical device that can make tissue blood flow visible. Twente Medical Optics is a spin-off of the University of Twente.

The device, called a handheld perfusion imager, can assist doctors in treating burns and in operations to repair damaged tissue, for example, after cancer surgery. By precisely showing how well a wound or skin area is perfused before, during, or after surgery, doctors can intervene more quickly if complications arise.

The unique thing about this device is that it is compact and wireless, so it can be held in the hand. Unlike existing devices, which are very bulky, it can easily be used in all kinds of situations, on all kinds of body locations. We hope that this will eventually lead to better treatment, with fewer complications.

The development of the device is taking place in collaboration with researchers from the University of Twente, and medical partners in the region are involved in testing the device in a clinical setting. Twente Medical Optics builds on years of research in the Biomedical Photonic Imaging group on optical imaging, which uses light to visualise processes in the body without needing to cut into the patient.

With this EFRO grant, Eastern Netherlands is investing in innovative technologies that contribute to better healthcare and economic growth.