Technology
Overview
The only method to accurately assess the quality and health of cartilage is through a histological assessment of the tissue.
Unfortunately, a biopsy of the tissue is necessary to obtain the histological score, and cartilage biopsies have been shown to
accelerate the degradation of the surrounding cartilage. Therefore, biopsies are not routinely performed because of the additional
damage done to the patient's tissue.
VasoLux's technology provides a real-time histological assessment of the tissue without the need to take a biopsy. Additionally,
VasoLux's technology is designed to be used intra-operatively - a feature not possible with competing molecular imaging technologies
such as MRI, SPECT, and PET. Lastly, VasoLux's technology does not require the addition of potentially hazardous and costly contrast
agents.
VasoLux's technology can objectively quantify the quality of an individual's cartilage, allowing surgeons to assess the impact of
past therapeutic interventions and determine the appropriate prescriptive remedy to treat cartilage damage. VasoLux's technology
helps eliminate the subjective diagnoses of osteoarthritis and other cartilage diseases, which in turn eliminates waste in the
health care system by identifying those patients best suited for a particular therapeutic intervention, be it pharmaceutical or
surgical.
Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy
VasoLux's technological solution is unique in that it uses non-visible, infrared light to look at the molecular structure of cartilage,
in vivo, in a non-destructive way. The infrared light interacts with tissue to create a "finger print" for the specific bio-chemical
nature of the tissue. The biochemical fingerprints are then correlated to well recognized and utilized histopathological scoring systems,
which provides an analysis on the quality of cartilage and the level of cartilage degeneration.
More detailed information on infrared spectroscopy can be found at the following websites:
