Next-gen Medical Imaging Solution for Improvement of Surgical Precision

About the Client

A Swiss MedTech startup and spin-off from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), the client is pioneering digital microscopy technology aimed at improving surgical precision and intraoperative decision-making. Its flagship product, a histology scanner, enables real-time visualization of tissue morphology on surgical specimens, allowing surgeons to assess tissue margins during surgery rather than waiting for longer post-operative analysis cycles.

Objective

The startup needed a high-performance software solution to power its ultra-high-resolution optical scanner and support broader product growth across regulated markets. The goals were ambitious and multi-layered: enable real-time intraoperative tissue analysis to improve surgical diagnostics, develop a robust and ergonomic GUI for seamless scanner operation in clinical environments, ensure regulatory compliance for deployment across the EU, the U.S., and China, and integrate AI-powered predictive analysis to support more informed surgical decision-making.

Solution

Our team developed scalable software with integrated AI capabilities able to handle gigabyte-scale images very fast while ensuring strict regulatory compliance. The solution included:

 1. Histolog Scanner & Viewer

The Histolog Scanner serves as the primary intraoperative imaging tool allowing surgeons to scan, manipulate and export high-resolution images of tissue specimens in real time. Meanwhile, the Histolog Viewer provides a secure and flexible desktop solution for reviewing, annotating and analyzing scans across different devices.

Key features include:

• Live high-resolution image processing for immediate surgical assessment;
• Advanced annotation & measurement tools to enhance clinical decision-making;
• DICOM integration for seamless hospital IT system compatibility;
• Remote collaboration features enabling external device access and multi-user interaction.

 2. License Management System

To protect software integrity and control feature access, Altabel developed a robust licensing system with:

• Centralized licensing server for activation & monitoring;
• Hardware-bound activation preventing unauthorized software use;
• Time-based & feature-based licensing models ensuring flexibility for hospitals.

 3. DICOM Integration

A critical step in expanding market reach was ensuring that the scanner’s imaging data could be stored, accessed and shared within hospital systems. Altabel’s team implemented DICOM compatibility enabling:

• Automated image conversion for cross-platform compatibility;
• Secure storage & retrieval to integrate with hospital PACS systems;
• Scalability for future expansion into new geographic markets.

 4. E-Learning Platform

In 2022 the Client’s Marketing and Sales department approached us with a different kind of challenge - ensuring that surgeons and pathologists could effectively use their innovative technology. To increase product adoption required more than a technical solution - it required education and skills development.
To address this, Altabel established a separate full-stack web team, including Business Analysts, QA and web developers, to create a comprehensive e-learning platform for medical staff training.

The platform now provides:

• Interactive training modules simulating real-world histology cases;
• Certification tracking & AI-powered assessments to ensure clinician proficiency;
• Remote learning capabilities, reducing reliance on on-site training.

According to the client’s feedback, the platform has significantly improved training efficiency, enabled remote learning and increased product adoption by lowering barriers to entry for new users.

Result

Regulatory success

• CE-marked in 2016, followed by FDA 510(k) clearance in 2024 allowing deployment across Europe & the U.S.
• Fully compliant with ISO 13485, IEC 62304, IVDR, MDR, ensuring adherence to strict medical regulations.

Clinical & market validation

• The SHIELD study showed a 67% reduction in reoperation rates for breast-conserving surgeries (from 30% to 10%).
• Clinical studies confirmed an 80% reduction in tissue assessment time, optimizing surgical workflows.

Innovation & intellectual property

• One of Altabel’s developers co-authored a patented technology for sample motion artifact detection.
• €3 million secured in Horizon2020 funding, recognizing Altabel as Samantree’s AI software partner.