• NearWave develops a handheld medical imaging device utilizing near-infrared laser light for deep tissue imaging, primarily focused on breast cancer screening and therapy monitoring.
  • The device wirelessly transmits images to mobile devices or laptops, providing real-time data to physicians.
  • NearWave is at the forefront of medical technology, enhancing cancer detection methods and improving patient outcomes.

The healthcare industry is adopting to newer and more innovative medical technology and is undergoing rapid transformation.

This is driven by advancements in imaging techniques that enhance diagnostic accuracy and patient care.

As more of these innovations take over the medical field, handheld medical imaging devices are transitioning as game-changers as they allow for quick and effective assessments in various healthcare settings.

These devices are portable solutions, and they allow physicians to perform deep tissue imaging, facilitating early detection and ongoing monitoring of conditions such as breast cancer.

The Need for Advanced Imaging Solutions

As breast cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers among women globally, it stands to benefit immensely from innovations that can help in early detection and prevention to a greater extent.

NearWave is revolutionizing the early detection and therapy monitoring of breast cancer through a breakthrough handheld imaging device.

A non-invasive device using frequency domain near-infrared spectroscopy (fdNIRS) to assess vital biomarkers, including tissue oxygen saturation and hemoglobin concentrations. It is the smallest, fastest, and easiest to use

A product of the culmination of 30 years of diffuse optics science in a single device, the scanner is the smallest fully integrated, battery-powered handheld, fastest device of this nature.

In clinical applications, fdNIRS measures optical properties such as absorption and scattering in deep tissue (1-2.5cm).

The resulting information can lead to quantitative metabolic measurements of key biomarkers in the tissue such as regional oxygen saturation and hemoglobin concentrations.

This provides clinicians with greater insight, facilitating the development of predictive models for clinical diagnostic information.

The Power of Near-Infrared Imaging for Cancer Detection

Although many innovations have paved the way for more accurate diagnoses, cancer treatment is struggling to effectively track if a therapy is working over time.

With traditional imaging methods, like mammograms and MRIs, the discomfort caused to the patient is paramount, in some cases causing extreme pain.

Such devices also fail to capture real-time data during ongoing therapy which is another hindrance that NearWave aspires to fill in.

Founded by Roy Stillwell, Alyssa Chong and Thomas O'Sullivan in 2020, the US-based company is designed to empower both clinicians and patients with more immediate and reliable data.

"NearWave's core imaging technology and accompanying prediction models have been shown in multi-center studies to predict pathologic complete response in breast cancer patients in as early as a week.
If oncologists knew efficacy in a few days, they would make real-time adjustments to therapy, personalizing care for each patient." Roy Sitwell remarked.

Real-time imaging, in 1D and 2D, can enable the display of tissue profusion, optical properties, and raw data for clinical researchers via the platform's mobile companion app.

The current prototype can provide about 1.5 hours of continuous imaging on battery power.

"We measure the molecular absorption and scattering of light of biomarkers (blood, water, lipid) to monitor changes in metabolic and hemodynamic information in tissue . Metabolic changes are an excellent indicator of therapy response, which our AI models use to categorize and predict the treatment outcomes." Sitwell added.

This shift toward real-time monitoring means that both doctors and patients are no longer left in the dark between appointments. Instead, they can take proactive steps based on data-driven insights.

The Near Future of NearWave

The company has garnered attention and support from many investors in healthcare innovation.

With significant funding from IrishAngels and Y Combinator, the most recent investors, the company raised $1.2 million in a seed round in 2022.

The company is also at the forefront of the medical tech industry, as it keeps offering a vital tool in the fight against breast cancer.

By enabling real-time, non-invasive imaging through near-infrared light, the company’s technology helps clinicians detect cancer early and monitor ongoing treatments with unparalleled precision.

As the healthcare industry becomes increasingly digital, NearWave’s real-time, wireless imaging device offers a promising glimpse into the future of medical diagnostics.

Edited By Annette George