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'Game-changing' VCSEL system targets clinical imaging

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Trumpf and iThera to show photonic subsystem for optoacoustic medical imaging and sensing at Photonics West

Trumpf Photonic Components, a maker of VCSELs for industrial and consumer sensing, and iThera Medical are introducing a solution for optoacoustic imaging for clinical applications, which they will demo at Photonics West in San Francisco, 28 – 30 January 2025.

The photonic subsystem presented is based on a compact set-up of high power VCSEL arrays and bare ToF CMOS driver chips. The heat dissipation can be buffered in a small copper block, so the subsystem can be directly mounted within a medical handheld device with no active cooling.

According to Trumpf, the subsystem can replace current photonic systems and is described as a "game changer for routine clinical use", starting with soft tissue perfusion and oxygenation measurements, applicable to a wide range of diseases.

“The power-efficient and compact photonic solution of Trumpf and iThera is scalable and paves the way towards future patch and sensor optoacoustic applications. The VCSEL technology, with its benefits like precision, compact structure, energy efficiency and wide range of wavelengths is perfect for this application,” said Alexander Weigl, head of product management at Trumpf Photonic Components. “At Trumpf Photonic Components, we view the medical technology and life sciences sector as a growth area for numerous VCSEL wavelengths and applications," he added.

“Using VCSELs will allow us to cut light-source-related costs, volume and power consumption of our market-leading optoacoustic imaging devices by a factor of 100,” explained Patrick Leisching, CTO at iThera Medical GmbH.

“Additionally, compared with the currently used tunable solid-state lasers, the VCSEL subsystem results in a downgrade of the laser safety classification from its current Class 4 to Class 1, eliminating the need for special safety measures, and it will provide a substantially improved operating stability,” he commented. “These game-changing improvements will facilitate the translation of our technology from research into routine diagnostic use and also enable future sensing applications, making optoacoustic technology widely accessible across different care settings,” he said.


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