Digital Surgical Magnification Device for Lymphatic Surgery

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There are more patients suffering from lymphatic diseases than patients suffering from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In the US alone, 56% of breast cancer survivors develop lymphedema at two years, leading to approximately two million lymphedema patients annually. Lymphatic surgery relies on microsurgery and supermicrosurgery due to the small size of lymph vessels. Effective surgical visualization and high-power magnification are critical to lymphatic surgery. The lack of clinical tools available to lymphatic surgeons makes the already complicated lymphatic surgery even more challenging. The long-term goal is to improve outcomes of lymphatic surgery by enhancing surgical visualization. The overall objective of this application is to develop a wearable high-power digital magnification device for lymphatic surgery. The project will be guided by the following specific aims: Aim 1. Develop a wearable high-power digital magnification device for lymphatic surgery. A compact prototype will be developed that offers dynamic high-power 3D magnification with augmented reality (AR) for computer-aided lymphatic surgery. 4X-20X dynamic magnification will be developed for optimal surgical visualization of lymphatics. Autofocus and voice control will be implemented to cater to the demanding environment of lymphatic surgery. Aim 2. Characterize the wearable digital magnification device and demonstrate its utility in lymphatic surgery. System performance will be comprehensively characterized. The device will be applied to lymphatic surgery in a biological training model based on a chicken thigh and in vivo in a rodent model. The proposed project is innovative, in the applicant’s opinion, because it represents a substantive departure from the status quo by offering dynamic 3D digital magnification with AR capability in a wearable system. The proposed project is significant because it is expected to provide strong evidence-based proof of principle for further development and future clinical trials of wearable high-power digital magnification devices in lymphatic surgery. If the proposed device is successfully commercialized, lymphatic surgeons and other microsurgeons will have access to an innovative product that can improve surgical outcomes and reduce surgical costs.