Fluorescence Visualization Technology

The Velscope Handpiece emits a safe blue light into the oral cavity, which excites the tissue from the surface of the epithelium through to the basement membrane and into the stroma beneath, causing it to fluoresce. The clinician is then able to immediately view the different fluorescence responses to help differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue.

Velscope is the only non-invasive adjunctive device clinically proven to help discover occult oral disease. Under Velscope examination, abnormal tissue typically appears as irregular, dark areas that stand out against the otherwise normal, green fluorescence pattern of surrounding healthy tissue.

Oral Cancer accounts for up to 6.5% of all cancers diagnosed in Australia

• Worldwide the incidence of oral cancer is increasing.
• Approximately 2500 people in Australia are diagnosed with oral cancer each year
• Approximately 500 die from the disease.
• The 5 year survival rate for these patients is 52% at best.
• Survival rates are not improving.

In Australia and New Zealand, 7 people are diagnosed each day with Oral Cancer

System Features

• Painless, non-invasive, with no rinses or stains required.
• The Velscope examination takes only one or two minutes and is easy to incorporate into your workflow.
• Camera Adapter allows for photodocumentation and tracking of lesion.
• Flexible positioning: space-saving vertical or low profile horizontal orientation - your choice.
• Disposable Velscope/Barrier ensures hygiene between patients.
• Disposable anti-fog Velcap helps maintain hygiene and protects the handpiece filtering optics.

Velscope provides immediate benefits for the patient, the practitioner and the practice.

Velscope combines minimal per-patient costs with more effective screening. The investment for Velscope can be quickly recouped, yielding a substantial earning potential for the practice.

Oral Cancer mortality rates are increasing.

Mortality rates associated with oral cancer have remained unchanged for over 30 years, partly due to the limitations of white light examination of the oral mucosa. This has created a dire need for an improved oral mucosal screening procedure that would make it possible for clinicians to accurately identify tissue changes at and below the surface before they become apparent under white light examination.

Early discovery can save lives

In response to such a need, the Velscope System was developed in partnership with the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA). The technology has received over 50 million dollars in NIH and other government grants, as well as public and private equity financing to assist in its development. It is a technology platform based on the direct visualization of human tissue fluorescence and the changes in fluorescence that occur when abnormal tissue is present.

Sample Images

Examples of Direct Visualization under both White Light and Velscope Examination

Photography with Velscope

LED Dental’s new Velscope allows quick and easy detection of mucosal diseases, but until now, it has been difficult to get clear, sharp images through the Velscope.

Velscope uses a very narrow section of the visible light spectrum and the amount of light reaching the camera is very small. In order to get images that are of clinical value, there is a very specific protocol that must be followed when taking the images and then the images are processed so that they show the areas of interest - with detail that is expected by medical journals.

The photography package has therefore been developed which allows you to use any SLR (single lens reflex) digital camera with a standard macro lens (you probably already have this type of lens on your clinical camera). Unfortunately, "point & shoot" cameras do not work well for Velscope photography. They do not have the ability to work in a high-ISO mode (high light sensitivity) without significant amounts of "noise" (digital equivalent to film grain) showing in the image.

The Velscope Photography System consists of three components:

• A custom Velscope coupler that allows you to easily mount the Velscope handpiece to the end of your macro lens.

• A simple set of instructions that show you the settings necessary for your camera and the protocol to take the photos.

• Velscope Image Software to process the images taken through the Velscope.

Simply open your image and you see the effect of your adjustments in real time. Your settings can also be saved as presets for future images.