i-PRO unveils first multi-fluorescence camera for real-time biological imaging

i-PRO says it has developed a multi-fluorescence imaging camera that can capture two fluorescence signals and a white-light image at once, with Hokkaido University’s new ICG-C9 reagent. The companies say the system can separately visualize blood flow and lymphatic flow in real time, a step that could expand image-guided surgery and other intraoperative uses. Why it matters: - i-PRO’s new camera is designed to let surgeons see more than one biological signal at the same time, instead of switching between single-agent views. - The system could improve real-time decisions in fluorescence-guided surgery, where blood flow, lymphatic flow, tissue boundaries and anatomy all affect procedure outcomes. - The technology may expand the use of fluorescent reagents beyond current one-signal imaging workflows. What happened: - i-PRO announced the development of a multi-fluorescence imaging camera on June 22, 2026. - The camera supports indocyanine green, or ICG, and a new fluorescent reagent, ICG-C9, developed by Hokkaido University. - i-PRO and Hokkaido University Hospital demonstrated separate, real-time visualization of blood flow and lymphatic flow. - Hokkaido University presented the collaborative research results at ISFGS, the International Society for Fluorescence-Guided Surgery conference, in the U.S. on June 20, 2026. The details: - Hokkaido University’s Faculty of Advanced Life Science developed ICG-C9 in April 2024. - ICG-C9 emits fluorescence in a different wavelength range from conventional ICG. - i-PRO’s camera uses a multi-channel architecture to capture two fluorescence images in the infrared range plus a white-light image. - The system is optimized for ICG and ICG-C9 to raise sensitivity and reduce crosstalk between signals. - The camera uses CMOS image sensors to capture a white-light image and two fluorescence signals at different wavelengths. - The patent application for the technology is pending. - The research included non-clinical proof-of-concept experiments using both ICG and ICG-C9. - The experiments showed blood flow and lymphatic flow could be separately visualized whether ICG was used for blood flow and ICG-C9 for lymphatic flow, or the reverse. - The team also confirmed simultaneous visualization of tissue boundaries and important anatomical structures by combining ICG-based agents with different fluorescence characteristics. - In pre-clinical trials, the system captured visible-light images and multiple fluorescence images at the same time, overlaying anatomical structures with functional information. - Dr. Yusuke Watanabe of Hokkaido University Hospital, a gastrointestinal surgery specialist, took part in the clinically oriented imaging experiments. Between the lines: - The core shift is from single-signal fluorescence imaging to multi-signal imaging, which could make fluorescence guidance more useful in complex surgery. - The collaboration pairs a camera platform from i-PRO with a new reagent from Hokkaido University, suggesting the value comes from the combination rather than either technology alone. - i-PRO is positioning the camera as a broader visualization platform, not just a one-off surgical imaging device. What’s next: - i-PRO plans to expand the technology’s use with additional fluorescent reagents. - The company says it will position the system as a next-generation visualization platform for image-guided surgery. - Future applications could include new combinations for identifying tumors, tissue boundaries and important anatomical structures. The bottom line: - i-PRO and Hokkaido University say they have shown the world’s first real-time, simultaneous imaging of two ICG-based fluorescence signals, a capability that could broaden how surgeons visualize biology during procedures. More information: Hokkaido University and i-PRO