EndoGlow
Enhancing Tissue Visualization During Minimally Invasive Surgeries

Great success in business grows from just one, tiny seed. For Dr. Paula Jaye Doyle, the inspiration to start EndoGlow, a medical devices company aiming to improve patient outcomes by enhancing tissue visualization, came when she experienced a professional challenge. A reconstructive pelvic surgeon, Dr. Doyle, was concerned about the amount of scar tissue and anatomical distortion she encountered during several of her surgeries. To put it simply, Dr. Doyle could see the surface topography of the anatomy but was unable to see what lay in or underneath the tissue. “Even though I was operating with super high tech surgical systems, I felt like I couldn’t view the borders of the bladder, and hence, was unable to perform the surgery as quickly as I wanted to because of how scarred and distorted the bladder was,” she reveals. When she verbalized her frustration to her colleagues, they shared similar concerns regarding the lack of haptics and wanting more visual information during robotic surgical procedures. This prompted Dr. Doyle to seek an alternative.

Together with a group of like-minded researchers, she started brainstorming different ideas to bring enhanced imaging to minimally invasive surgery. And, that is when the idea of creating a polymer that fluoresces under near-infrared imaging, which is the basis for EndoGlow’s proprietary ‘Tissue Reveal Technology’ (TRT), was born. TRT allows surgical teams to see tissue depth and quality; it highlights surgical planes while exposing anomalies under the surface of the tissue, giving surgeons the visual information that is not otherwise available.

Leveraging TRT, EndoGlow manufactures fluorescent medical devices that can be used during gynecological, urological, and colorectal minimally invasive surgeries. These devices aim to improve patient safety, enhance surgical efficiency, and reduce medical costs. “Our devices are designed to work in conjunction with camera systems that image near infrared (NIR).

By embedding fluorescence, our products transilluminate tissues in order to visualize subsurface pathology, surgical planes, and relative tissue depth,” says Dr. Doyle, chief medical officer, EndoGlow. In other words, EndoGlow’s TRT delivers surgical fluorescence without the use of traditionally injected fluorescents like ICG or other dyes. By integrating fluorescence into the surgical tool and providing transillumination, TRT expands the types of procedures that can benefit from NIR imaging.

One of the crown jewels of EndoGlow is a pelvic manipulator called GreenEgg that is under development. It is a disposable device that can be used for manipulation and visualization in applications specific to pelvic surgery, such as in cystectomies, lower anterior resections, or removal of endometriosis. “It incorporates TRT that fluoresces under NIR light to provide enhanced feedback during surgery. GreenEgg will give surgeons much more visual information to make the correct decision for a patient in real time,” mentions Dr. Doyle.

By embedding fluorescence, our products transilluminate tissues in order to visualize subsurface pathology, surgical planes, and relative tissue depth

Another notable aspect of EndoGlow’s products is that they are brand agnostic; the devices can be used on any surgical system with near-infrared capabilities. Besides, unlike conventional manipulators with LED lights, EndoGlow’s fluorescent manipulators are power-free (they do not have power cords or batteries) and injection-free. Furthermore, EndoGlow’s TRT and devices show immense promise as a surgical teaching tool, “it will be beneficial in educating surgical learners about minimally invasive operative techniques,” adds Dr. Doyle.

The firm has completed its first pilot study and is in the middle of its second one. “We are planning on doing some more clinical and economic studies once we have FDA approval,” asserts Dr. Doyle. Alongside, the company is looking to partner with some of the larger businesses in the space for co-marketing opportunities and enhance the capabilities of its devices. “We have an entire product roadmap that we will eventually roll out but for the time being we’re laser focused on the GreenEgg. Our main goal is to expand the near infrared capabilities beyond just doing ICG for angiograms or lymph nodes, and GreenEgg is our first step to achieving it,” wraps up Dr. Doyle.