Advanced imaging technology for arteries and veins developed by UK engineers

Engineers at Cambridge Consultants have developed a 1.35mm diameter, 0.16 megapixels prototype HD camera called Leap, a cheap, single-use endoscope that can be operated from a standard computer. Leap can give an accurate image of the inside of arteries and veins, and is flexible and sufficiently small enough to use during an intracoronary angioscopy for example. Leap allows surgeons to undertake tissue classification or direct imaging of non-standard vascular occlusions, and could be used in conjunction with intravascular ultrasounds and optical coherence tomography for superior diagnostic techniques during surgery.
Simon Karger, head of Surgical and Interventional Products at Cambridge Consultants said: “We have combined our intravascular device experience with our knowledge of micro optics, systems engineering and AI, in conjunction with external manufacturing partners. The result is an economically viable, disposable camera system that is small enough to fit into the working channel of a typical vascular catheter.”