Calibration Solutions for Fluorescence Imaging and Quantification
In fluorescence imaging, signal brightness depends on both the tissue and how the image is captured. Key factors include:
How far the camera is from the tissue
The angle at which the tissue is viewed
The amount of light in the room
Type of fluorescent contrast agent used, along with it’s spread and accumulation (biodistribution)
How sensitive the camera is
The type of lens or tool used (like an endoscope or microscope)
Camera settings, such as exposure time and digital gain
All of these factors can affect how strong the signal appears. For a detailed overview of image quality, performance evaluation, and test methods in fluorescence-guided surgery, see this scientific report from AAPM Task Group.
Concentration Standards
By imaging tissue samples alongside a fixed standard —such as Absofi’s concentration target —fluorescence images can be calibrated to a consistent benchmark, enabling quantification of dye uptake and clearer delineation of tissue margins.
Our ICG reference targets feature a logarithmic concentration scale ranging from 0.03 to 10 micromolar, covering the typical dynamic range of clinically relevant intensities as found in fluorescence guided surgery.
Image Quantification & Annotation Service
Our remote image quantification and annotation service enables customers to submit tissue images for precise analysis—eliminating the need for in-house image processing.
In conjunction with standardised concentration reference scales, users can upload their tissue images to us. Our software automatically detects the embedded reference chart within each image and fits a calibration curve based on known concentration values. This allows for robust quantification of fluorescence signal intensity across the tissue sample. Examples are margin detection, molecular concentration uptake, and dosing studies.
Once calibrated, the system annotates tissue regions with corresponding concentration values, enabling accurate spatial mapping of fluorescence markers. Users have full control over the annotation process through interactive tools, including sliders for thresholding, contour detection, and custom color mapping, to highlight areas of interest based on signal strength or distribution.
The platform supports export of the processed and annotated images in standard formats (e.g., JPEG, PNG), suitable for publication, reporting, or documentation. Being camera-agnostic, the portal accepts images from all imaging systems, making it compatible with a wide range of laboratory or surgical cameras, including both proprietary and commercial devices.
This service provides a streamlined, reproducible pipeline from raw image acquisition to quantifiable, publication-ready visual data.
