- The company’s proprietary technology could change the way surgeons handle cystoscopy procedures by displaying white light and blue light images side-by-side on one screen
- The technology is primarily promoted as an imaging device for bladder cancer but has the potential to expand to other endoscopic procedures including laparoscopic, colorectal and thoracic
- Bladder cancer is the sixth most prevalent cancer in the United States, with 600,000 people fearing recurrence
- The global market for bladder cancer is estimated to grow to an estimated $4.71 billion by 2026
The current standard of care for bladder cancer is minimally invasive surgery (MIS)uses white light to illuminate the cancer in the bladder. The 30-year-old white light method is highly effective for visualizing the cancerous tumors that protrude above the bladder’s wall. Unfortunately, it is difficult to distinguish flat tumors from normal tissue and the margins of the tumor are almost impossible to visualize with the current standards.
The introduction of blue light in combination with a fluorescent contrasting druglight has been a game-changer in the industry, with one major exception – it cannot be used in real-time. Surgeons are required to flip between the white light and the blue light during operations to remove the cancer which is awkward , Surgical imaging company,
Imagin Medical (CSE: IME) (OTCQB: IMEXF) can solve this issue and potentially change the way surgeons visualize bladder cancer..
The company’s proprietary technology, i/Blue Imaging System(TM), brings both white light and blue light together in one format without the need to switch screens back and forth. The i/Blue Imaging System(TM) combines the same FDA-approved imaging agent with blue light in an innovative way that provides a simultaneous real-time side-by-side images, instead of switching back and forth between the two images.
Imagin Medical has taken its design to the next level, creating a system that is compatible with most endoscopes on the market today. This makes it a cost-effective solution for hospitals, that could adopt the new technology without having to replace current equipment.
The i/Blue Imaging System(TM) is currently transitioning from the developmental phase to manufacturing, and holds the potential to revolutionize the current standard of care for bladder cancer patients, a vast market in the United States where bladder cancer is the sixth most prevalent cancer and the most expensive cancer to treat.
According to Verified Market Research, the global bladder cancer market was valued at $3.43 billion in 2018 and is expected to continue growing to reach a projected value of $4.71 billion by 2026 (
https://ibn.fm/w8wki). Additionally, bladder cancer accounts for 4.5% of all new cancers that are diagnosed. The number of new cases in 2020 is expected to reach an estimated 81,400, with a projected death rate of 17,980, which is approximately 3% of all cancer-related deaths (
https://ibn.fm/049ch).
Bladder cancer also has one of the highest recurrence rates, leaving about 600,000 people in fear that their cancer will return, according to Imagin Medical. The company’s i/Blue System can change that, as the use of both white and blue light during surgery can enhance accuracy of detection and removal of cancer cells, potentially lowering recurrence rates.
Imagin Medical is currently taking steps to obtain market approval for the i/Blue System(TM) and has already selected an FDA-registered contract manufacturer for the technology, Lighthouse Imaging. According to CEO Jim Hutchens, the contract is a major step towards commercialization especially given the extensive validation test data required by the FDA throughout the approval process (
https://ibn.fm/bB2FY).
While its initial focus is bladder cancer, the company plans to build on its innovative technology and adapt it to other FDA-approved contrast agents and illumination sources to address multiple endoscopic procedures such as laparoscopic (general and gynecology), colorectal and thoracic, thus significantly expanding Imagin Medical’s market potential.
For more information, visit the company’s website at
www.ImaginMedical.com.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IMEXF are available in the company’s newsroom at
https://ibn.fm/IMEXF
