The invention of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) has undoubtedly redefined the global surgical landscape. In fact, the market is estimated to reach USD 32.7 billion in 2025 from USD 20.1 billion in 2019, at a CAGR of 8.5 percent during the forecast period. The growth is rather justifiable considering the increasing number of MIS producers across the globe and the long list of advantages it offers over traditional open surgeries, which include—but are not limited to—small incisions, less pain, low risk of infection, short hospital stays, quick recovery time, less scarring, and reduced blood loss. It also helps surgeons reduce risks associated with conventional open surgeries by allowing them to do more delicate and complex work with accuracy.

However, much like any other type of medical surgery, MIS is far from perfect. Dr. Paula Jaye Doyle, the Chief Medical Officer of EndoGlow, explains this out of the personal experience. “I’ve had several frustrating experiences during robotic surgeries. I was oftentimes encountered with scar tissues and anatomical distortion, which could evolve as health issues for my patients.”

Although the advanced visual technologies in MIS equipment allowed Dr. Doyle to see the anatomy’s surface topography, they lacked the potential to unlock subsurface visibility. Besides, robotic surgeries lacked haptic feedback, preventing Dr. Doyle from feeling the tissue during the procedure. Upon discussing these concerns with her colleagues during a research meeting, Dr. Doyle realized that several surgeons worldwide face similar hardships. Identifying the global need for more visual information to enhance decision making during robotic surgeries, Dr. Doyle decided to design and develop a robust fluorescent technology solution. By leveraging her real-world robotic surgical experience and spending several years researching different chemistries, materials, and formulations, the research team came up with a one-of-its-kind Tissue Reveal Technology (TRT). This spurred the conception of EndoGlow, a medical device company that provides enhanced visualization capabilities to surgeons during minimally invasive surgeries by using MIS equipment’s Near Infrared (NIR) capability. “We manufacture fluorescent medical devices that fluoresce under NIR, anticipating the need for the ability to see in different wavelengths outside the visible spectrum in the future surgical landscape,” says Dr. Doyle.