Ulm/San Francisco, January 27, 2025 – TRUMPF Photonic Components, a global leader in VCSEL (vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser) solutions for industrial and consumer sensing, and iThera Medical are introducing a solution for optoacoustic imaging for clinical applications. This VCSEL-based subsystem can replace current photonic systems and is the game changer for routine clinical use, starting with soft tissue perfusion and oxygenation measurements, applicable to a wide range of diseases. “The power-efficient and compact photonic solution of TRUMPF and iThera is scalable and paves the way towards future patch and sensor optoacoustic applications. The VCSEL technology, with its benefits like precision, compact structure, energy efficiency and wide range of wavelengths is perfect for this application,” said Alexander Weigl, Head of Product Management at TRUMPF Photonic Components. “At TRUMPF Photonic Components, we view the medical technology and life sciences sector as a growth area for numerous VCSEL wavelengths and applications,” he added.
“Using VCSELs will allow us to cut light-source-related costs, volume and power consumption of our market-leading optoacoustic imaging devices by a factor of 100,” explained Patrick Leisching, CTO at iThera Medical GmbH. “Additionally, compared with the currently used tunable solid-state lasers, the VCSEL subsystem results in a downgrade of the laser safety classification from its current Class 4 to Class 1, eliminating the need for special safety measures, and it will provide a substantially improved operating stability,” he commented. “These game-changing improvements will facilitate the translation of our technology from research into routine diagnostic use and also enable future sensing applications, making optoacoustic technology widely accessible across different care settings,” he said.
The photonic subsystem presented is based on a compact set-up of high power VCSEL arrays and bare ToF CMOS driver chips. The heat dissipation can be buffered in a small copper block, so the subsystem can be directly mounted within a medical handheld device with no active cooling.
Visit TRUMPF at Photonics West 2025, Booth 833
iThera Medical is the leader in optoacoustic imaging (OAI) with a global customer base in preclinical and clinical research.
OAI has the potential to become a widely used clinical diagnostic technique with an initial indication focus on the assessment of muscle perfusion and oxygen saturation in peripheral arterial disease and neuromuscular diseases.
The company was founded in 2010 as a spin-off of the Helmholtz Center Munich and is headquartered in Munich, Germany.
iThera Medical is the leader in optoacoustic imaging (OAI) with a global customer base in preclinical and clinical research. OAI has the potential to become a widely used clinical diagnostic technique with an initial indication focus on the assessment of muscle perfusion and oxygen saturation in peripheral arterial disease and neuromuscular diseases.
The company was founded in 2010 as a spin-off of the Helmholtz Center Munich and is headquartered in Munich, Germany.
For further information, please contact:
Christian Wiest
Phone: +49 (0) 89 700 7449-21
Email: christian.wiest@ithera-medical.com