The Amplitude Project has led groundbreaking research in next-generation imaging technologies to improve bladder cancer detection. Despite challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the project made significant progress in developing advanced imaging systems.
In its early stages, the team focused on defining technical requirements, designing high-performance lasers for deep-tissue imaging, and creating bladder cancer cell models to identify biomarkers. They also developed designs for a state-of-the-art microscope and endoscopic probe while engaging with specialists, patients, and the public.
During the pandemic, laboratory closures caused delays, but the team successfully designed and tested two bench-top 1700nm lasers, characterized imaging objectives, and developed bladder cancer cell models to evaluate the system’s capabilities. They also designed the Amplitude microscope and endoscope and began prototyping key components.
As the project progressed, technical hurdles caused some delays, but the team delivered a packaged 1675nm laser prototype and a research version of a Tm-doped laser covering 1700-1900nm. They also developed a multi-modal microscope prototype and finalized the endoscopic probe design and conducted Raman and SHG experiments to assess whether different imaging techniques could distinguish between various bladder cancer stages.
In the final phase, the 1675nm laser was successfully integrated with the multi-modal microscope, which was used to demonstrate SHG, Third Harmonic Generation (THG), and elastic scattered light imaging in tissue up to 800 µm thick, and SHG-2PFE and THG-3PFE imaging in unlabelled biological samples.
Further research is needed to validate these findings and advance the laser, microscope, and endoscopic probe toward commercialization. This pioneering work brings us closer to a new era of non-invasive, highly accurate bladder cancer diagnostics, improving early detection and patient outcomes.
