Confocal Devices

 

While confocal imaging is a common capability in today’s laboratory microscopes, the ability to acquire in vivo confocal images of subjects in the lab and patients in the clinic has been largely limited to experimental devices at research universities. The availability of commercial laser scanning confocal microscopes for in vivo imaging has been quite sparse. It is a truly unfortunate that the lack of a significant market for these devices makes it unlikely that they will be integrated into mainstream dermatology care or that a consensus on best practice for this imaging technology will be reached anytime soon.

 

 

Lucid, Inc.

 

I had the opportunity to test Lucid’s VivaScope 1000 in my lab. The results suggested considerable opportunities exist to shift the patterns captured by the confocal optics to perceptually better domains, as well as to create three-dimensional models for both scientific and clinical applications. It must be said that the 1000 was a sizable piece of equipment to fit into an exam room; however, the good news is that Lucid has introduced smaller, second generation products – the VivaScope 1500 on a cart (above) and the VivaScope 3000, a hand-held device.

 

 

Optiscan Pty. Ltd.

 

 

Optiscan Stratum

 

Optiscan, an optical medical device company based in Australia, also has developed an in vivo skin imaging device, the Stratum. However, they have determined “that the dermatology market is a medium term proposition for which a partner has not yet been identified”. Instead, Optiscan has focused on using the technology for endoscopic applications.