FLUAR has delivered a disruptive advance in fluorescence-guided surgery (FGS) by creating the world’s first wearable AR headset capable of real-time, in-sight visualization of NIR markers such as indocyanine green (ICG). This innovation eliminates the need for traditional tower-based FGS systems in open surgeries with external cameras and displays, replacing them with a compact, ergonomic, and intelligent system tailored to the needs of surgeons.
The FLUAR headset integrates miniaturized NIR sensors and illumination systems, and embedded computer vision. It enables surgeons to see tumour margins and vascular structures directly in the sight on the surgical field. Compared to the current state-of-the-art of classic FGS towers, which requires costly, bulky systems and subjective monitor-to-patient mapping, FLUAR delivers a leap forward. It is lightweight, fully wearable, hands-free, and more accessible, offering a solution up to 3 times more cost-efficient and better suited to small and mid-sized hospitals.
FLUAR’s impact extends across clinical, operational, and economic domains. It has the potential to improve patient outcomes by reducing reoperation rates and complications, optimizes workflow by reducing cognitive and time burdens on surgeons, and lowers healthcare costs. Moreover, by removing the high capital and infrastructure barriers of traditional FGS, it democratizes access to precision surgery in under-resourced hospitals.
To ensure successful uptake and long-term impact, next steps consist of clinical validation efforts and final submission for MDR CE certification, the expansion of multicenter clinical trials to support broader adoption and reimbursement, strategic partnerships for commercialization, distribution, and market entry across the EU and US.
