Agfa HealthCare will launch its SKINTELL* high-definition optical coherence tomography (HD-OCT) solution at the 21st congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) in Prague. This non-invasive imaging technology allows the examination of the epidermal morphology and superficial dermis, potentially avoiding a biopsy.
Speed and comfort for patient and doctor
SKINTELL HD-OCT non-invasively visualizes skin layers up to 1mm in depth, with no discomfort for the patient. It offers three viewing modes: slice, 3D and the unique en face, which gives a parallel perspective to the skin, in real time.
The 3 µm high-resolution solution, which can be adapted to all skin types, provides views in all three dimensions of the epidermal layers and the dermal-epidermal junction down to the upper part of collagen tissue. A 3D image takes one second.
Complements and adds to dermatological examinations
"SKINTELL is a truly new solution for dermatologists, dermato-oncologists, plastic surgeons and the cosmetic industry, and it is backed by several Agfa HealthCare patents," comments Dirk Debusscher, Vice President Imaging at Agfa HealthCare. "It complements current dermatological examinations, combining the advantages of several types of exams, but with a speed and comfort that will be appreciated by doctor and patient alike. For example, it provides a subcutaneous view not possible with dermatoscopy, a deeper view than confocal microscopy, and 3D zoom for regions of interest."
Fits in daily practice and with advanced technologies
Dr. Marc Boone uses SKINTELL HD-OCT at his dermatology practice near Brussels, Belgium. "My patients appreciate the speed and real-time analysis of the image. It creates confidence in the doctor," he comments. Dr. Boone uses all advanced imaging technologies, such as digital microscopy, high-frequency ultrasound and confocal scanning microscopy.
Dr. Tanja Maier uses SKINTELL HD-OCT at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in Munich, Germany. She comments: "SKINTELL offers the possibility of immediate imaging of epithelial skin cancer and has potential in the non-invasive monitoring of skin tumors under topical treatment. It facilitates and accelerates the process of evaluation in daily practice."
Prof. Dr. Johannes Wohlrab performed a successful pre-clinical trial at the Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Halle, Germany. He states: "We have validated the HD-OCT solution SKINTELL in comparison with high frequency ultrasound (50 MHz) and presented the potential of a non-invasive depiction of the epidermal structures in particular. In my opinion, the clinical use of SKINTELL can enhance the non-invasive diagnostics of intra-epidermal processes considerably."
* SKINTELL is CE marked as a medical device and is intended to be used to create images of non-open wounded human skin and the corresponding close-to surface tissue.
* Not available in Canada or the US.
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About Agfa
The Agfa-Gevaert Group is one of the world’s leading companies in imaging and information technology. Agfa develops manufactures and markets analogue and digital systems for the printing industry (Agfa Graphics), for the healthcare sector (Agfa HealthCare), and for specific industrial applications (Agfa Materials). Agfa is headquartered in Mortsel, Belgium. The company is present in 40 countries and has agents in another 100 countries around the globe. The Agfa-Gevaert Group achieved a turnover of 2,948 million euro in 2010.
About Agfa HealthCare
Agfa HealthCare, a member of the Agfa-Gevaert Group, is a leading global provider of diagnostic imaging and healthcare IT solutions. The company has nearly a century of healthcare experience and has been a pioneer on the healthcare IT market since the early 1990's. Today Agfa HealthCare designs, develops and delivers state-of-the-art systems for capturing, managing and processing diagnostic images and clinical/administrative information for hospitals and healthcare facilities, as well as contrast media solutions to enable effective medical imaging results. The company has sales offices and agents in over 100 markets worldwide. Sales for Agfa HealthCare in 2010 were 1,180 million euro.