|
An endoscope is the medical device used - by direct insertion - to
visualize suspicious masses in the hollow organs of the body such as the
gastrointestinal tract, esophagus, lungs, urinary tract and uterus.
In 1805, Philip Bozzini used a rudimentary, light-guiding tube he created
(a Lichtleiter - light guiding instrument) to view the urinary tract,
pharynx, and rectum.
In 1853, Antoine Jean Desormeaux developed an instrument to view urinary
structures. Desormeaux called his instrument an “endoscope.”
In the 1960’s fiber optics allowed a major reduction in the size of the
endoscope and helped clarify the doctor’s view. Use of endoscopes in the
practice of medicine exploded.
The endoscopy procedure is used to confirm a diagnosis when other tools,
such as an MRI, X-ray, or CT scan are considered inappropriate or
unclear.
Endoscopies are commonly performed in the diagnosis of cancer; for taking
samples of tissue, called biopsies, to find out whether it is cancerous as
well as for complete excision (the cutting out) of suspicious lesions.
There are many different types of endoscopes and depending on the site in
the body, and the type of procedure, endoscopy may be performed by a doctor
or a surgeon, and the patient may be fully conscious or under general
anesthetic.
Endoscopes are also used in laparoscopic surgery in which a small incision
is made, usually in the navel, through which a viewing tube is inserted. This
allows the doctor to examine the abdominal and pelvic organs on a video
monitor connected to the tube.
Laparoscopes are also utilized in surgery to visualize various organs and
tissues within the body during surgical removal and to avoid damage to
adjacent organ and vascular systems and other critical structures.
Laparoscopy is less invasive than regular open abdominal surgery.
Because of the endoscope biopsies of the intestines or lungs can be done
without the need for major surgery.
White Light
Visible light, or what we call “white light” has been utilized in
endoscopes for decades to guide the physician and surgeon so they can “see”
the cancer in the organ of interest and subsequently for biopsy and in the
removal of suspicious masses.
However, white light has visualization limitations for all
cancer types because white light cannot pass through tissue or blood and
cannot illuminate tumors beneath the skin surface.
In addition, white light is not  effective in visualizing the borders of the tumor to
determine where it starts and ends (the margins) especially after the initial
removal of the main mass.
If the surgeon does not remove all the cancerous growth
and a few cancerous cells remain, or does not remove all cancerous cells at
the margins, the tumor can grow back and spread or metastasize to other parts
of the body.
Another major problem with endoscopes that utilize only white light is
that malignant and premalignant tumors that are flat, or very small, may look
similar to normal tissues. As a result a physician may not be able to
identify some aggressive cancers. In order to be safe, physicians may have to
collect random and repeat biopsies as the only possible way to ensure that
cancer is not missed in high risk patients.
Blue Light
Because of the limitations with using white light for visualizing cancers,
various companies have begun to explore usage of blue light in conjunction with
imaging agents or chemical dyes. These recent advances and successes with
blue light and chemical tumor targeting agents have improved the ability to
visualize cancers and margins.
However, these chemical agents can cause various adverse effects including
anaphylaxis shock and hypersensitivity reactions with repeated usage at the
high doses currently required for visualization. It is for this reason that
the FDA has limited use to just once for any patient.
Doctors and surgeons cannot repetitively examine a patient with these
chemical imaging agents. This is as critical problem for patients with
multiple tumors and those with recurrent tumors.
Red Light
Red lightrequires specialized laser light sources, ultrasensitive cameras
and a unique optical design. Currently no commercial instruments are
available using red light.
The Unmet Need
What is acutely needed in this particular imaging space is an ultrasensitive
endoscope system that uses white light while simultaneously using other
wavelengths of light to visualize all tumors, and one that requires only a
fraction of the chemical imaging agent so as to reduce the toxicity allowing
multiple usage in patents.
Future endoscopes should also have more advanced cancer detection
technologies so that ultimately no chemical imaging agents
would be necessary, and these future tools should provide ultrasensitive and
advanced imaging capabilities.
BSS Life Sciences
BSS Life Sciences is a biotechnology company founded to commercialize an
ultrasensitive, next generation imaging technology for extremely accurate
visualization of cancers.
BSS’s next generation imaging technology was invented and developed by Dr.
Stavros Demos. Dr. Demos worked with UC Davis Cancer Center physicians and
the U.C. Davis NSF Center for Biophotonics Science and Technology for more
than eight years creating this technology and demonstrating its proof of
principle.
The resulting instrument provides physicians a tool to complement white
light endoscopy by adding fluorescence imaging for more accurate and complete
detection and treatment of cancer and various other conditions.
BSS company inventors have designed, created and tested two different
systems that utilize simultaneous recording and display of images using white
light and either blue light or red light. One system (blue light) uses
targeted imaging dyes that require only a fraction of the current chemical
contrast agents and the other system (red light), uses no
contrast agents directly visualizing the intrinsic fluorescing tissue
biomolecules.
BSS’s technology is based on ultrasensitive detection and imaging
instrumentation that can be seamlessly adapted to any type of endoscopic or
other type of imaging device commercially available.
 The two working prototype systems that have
been created provide simultaneous white light and red light, or white light
and blue light for detection of tissue structures of interest that can be
visually isolated from the surrounding tissue. These systems acquire and
display simultaneously conventional white light images and images that arise
from either blue light or red light, which alleviates the problem of having
to switch back and forth between different light sources for the physician or
surgeon to view the tumors.
 The company’s
first two commercial applications of this technology are advanced endoscope
systems for the ultrasensitive detection and effective removal of bladder
cancers.
Preliminary testing was performed in vivo in 21 patients undergoing
transurethral resection of bladder tumors at the UC Davis Medical Center, a
well-respected cancer facility, with excellent results.
BSS Life Sciences has entered into a partnership with the UC Davis Cancer
center, to continue testing commercial prototypes for FDA application on
human patients.
In addition to clinical testing at UC Davis, BSS Life Sciences has
arranged additional testing by certified staff at the University of
California, San Francisco, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
and the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Competitive Advantages
Although there are many companies that manufacture endoscopy devices, no
company to date has developed an ultrasensitive blue light endoscopy system
that will use less than 1 percent of the toxic chemical currently (such as
Cysview) used per test.
In addition BSS Life Sciences has developed an ultrasensitive red light
endoscopy system that requires no chemical imaging
agents. It is expected that this system can also be used in two medical
settings for both diagnosis and tumor removal (resection). Because there is
no need for chemical imaging agents, this system can be used in a physician’s
office or clinic for cystoscopy (diagnosis), and in the operating room (O.R.)
or ambulatory surgical center for tumor removal or resection.
BSS has been issued patents covering these imaging systems that are
estimated to be at least 1000 times more sensitive in tumor detection than
any other devices currently in the marketplace. BSS’s devices will provide
improved detection of non-muscle invasive bladder cancer superior to what is
currently in the market place.
These devices will lead the marketplace in illumination of cancerous cells
and provide an improved surgical outcome as a result of an improved detection
and resection, which will lead to more adequate patient management and
follow-up.
A key feature of BSS’s technology is based on improving the imaging aspect
of endoscopy and it’s a technology that can be adapted to any kind of
existing endoscope. The instrumentation involved does not come into contact
with the patient, thus significantly reducing regulatory requirements and
associated expenditures. Furthermore, the interface of the imaging
instrumentation with the endoscope is via a flexible and lightweight adaptor
that is very easy for the operator to handle. Also, the white light and
fluorescence images are recorded and displayed simultaneously providing an
effective real time navigation tool that can be farther enhanced using
processing (such as overlapping and pseudo-coloring) of the two principal
images.
Market
The global endoscopy equipment market was estimated at $28.2 billion in
2013 and is expected to reach $37.9 billion by 2018, growing at a Compounded
Average Growth Rate (CAGR) of 6.1% from 2013 to 2018. The other factors that
are driving the growth of the global endoscopy equipment market include favorable
reimbursement in select regions, our aging population, and the increasing
prevalence of diseases that require endoscopy procedures.
Letter of Intent
Expedition Mining Inc. TSX.V – EXU has signed a letter of intent (LOI)
with BSS Life Sciences Inc. that would see Expedition acquire all of the
outstanding securities of BSS in an all-share transaction to be completed by
way of a share exchange agreement. Concurrent with the completion of the
transaction, the LOI contemplates that Expedition complete a private
placement of a minimum of $1-million.
Conclusion
Current endoscopy instruments have a well-documented problem associated
with the limited ability to distinguish cancer from normal tissue.
BSS’s advanced ultrasensitive imaging technology is based upon improved
optical designs and components, and advanced light sensors. The results are:
- Increased sensitivity and specificity for the detection
of cancers and even premalignant lesions.
- A potential decrease in cancer recurrence due to the
ability to completely remove tumor tissues along with the cancerous
cells in the margins.
- A significant commercial advantage to BSS’s imaging
technology because of its adaptability to all endoscopes that are
currently on the market.
- Easy adoption of BSS’s two ultrasensitive imaging
designs for use in multiple other applications where endoscopy imaging
is currently utilized.
For all these reasons Expedition Mining, BSS Life Sciences, and their
significantly improved endoscope technology, needs to be on your radar screen.
Is advanced endoscopy on your screen?
If not, it should be.
Richard lives with his family on a 160 acre ranch in northern British
Columbia. He invests in the resource and biotechnology/pharmaceutical sectors
and is the owner of Aheadoftheherd.com. His articles have been published on
over 400 websites, including:
WallStreetJournal, USAToday, NationalPost, Lewrockwell, MontrealGazette,
VancouverSun, CBSnews, HuffingtonPost, Beforeitsnews, Londonthenews,
Wealthwire, CalgaryHerald, Forbes, Dallasnews, SGTreport, Vantagewire,
Indiatimes, Ninemsn, Ibtimes, Businessweek, HongKongHerald, Moneytalks,
SeekingAlpha, BusinessInsider, Investing.com, MSN.com and the Association of
Mining Analysts.
Please visit www.aheadoftheherd.com
– We’re telling you things everyone else doesn’t already know.
Free highly
acclaimed newsletter featuring today’s investable junior resource
companies.
If you are interested in sponsoring
Richard’s site please contact him for more information,
rick@aheadoftheherd.com
***
Legal Notice / Disclaimer
This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or
the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment.
Richard Mills has based this document on information obtained from sources
he believes to be reliable but which has not been independently verified.
Richard Mills makes no guarantee, representation or warranty and accepts
no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness.
Expressions of opinion are those of Richard Mills only and are subject to
change without notice. Richard Mills assumes no warranty, liability or
guarantee for the current relevance, correctness or completeness of any
information provided within this Report and will not be held liable for the
consequence of reliance upon any opinion or statement contained herein or any
omission.
Furthermore, I, Richard Mills, assume no liability for any direct or
indirect loss or damage or, in particular, for lost profit, which you may
incur as a result of the use and existence of the information provided within
this Report.
Richard does not own shares of Expedition Mining TSX.V – EXU or BSS Life
Sciences.
Expedition Mining is a sponsor of Richards
site aheadoftheherd.com
|
