The tech promises to give surgeons a clear view of tissue and structures normally obscured by pooled blood.
A US startup claims it has developed a way for surgeons to see through blood in real time by rendering it translucent, a feat long thought impossible.
California-based Ocutrx Technologies has introduced HemoLucence, a technology that promises to give surgeons a clear view of tissue and structures normally obscured by pooled blood during procedures.
Dubbed as the world-first in surgical imaging, the company plans to integrate the groundbreaking technology into its OR Bot 3D Surgical Microscope.
Pushing past blood barriers
As per a press release by the smart-up startup, the technology uses AI-powered algorithms to visualize obscured anatomy under the blood.
In tests, the system successfully visualized through three millimeters, approximately one-quarter inch, of whole human blood, which includes all major blood components.
In further tests, the company expects to be able to visualize under at least half an inch of blood.
The feature is still awaiting patent approval and has only been tested in lab settings so far.
HemoLucence works by tackling blood opacity using advanced computational physics. It uses proprietary AI and de-scattering algorithms to reconstruct a 3D view of anatomy hidden beneath blood.
According to the company, the system collects light from different angles and separates scattered light from absorbed light, something traditional imaging systems cannot do.
Math, light, and machines
The technology analyzes how light behaves as it moves through blood, using advanced math and physics to untangle visual distortion. While it can produce results from a single viewpoint, it becomes more accurate when images are gathered from multiple angles.
This allows the system to tell the difference between light absorbed by blood and light scattered by red blood cells. Behind the scenes, it relies on proprietary algorithms that combine statistical modeling and neural networks to reveal tissue structure and texture that would normally be hidden.
“In operating room imaging, seeing through blood in real-time during a surgery has been a long-sought-after tool, considered not just difficult, but impossible, and with current microscopes fundamentally unachievable,” said Jordan Boss, Chief R&D Officer and Director of the Ocutrx Genius Labs.
“While traditional systems can’t see through blood, our OR-Bot™ uses AI-driven algorithms to cut through the scatter and reconstruct a clear 3D view of what’s underneath, including vessels, nerves, bleed sites, and even tumors. This breakthrough transforms surgical visibility and precision.”
Medical advisors connected to the company, including surgeons from Cedars Sinai and Hoag Memorial Hospital, praised the innovation, saying it could boost safety and precision.
“Having the ability to render blood ‘transparent’ now makes the unseen, in the heat of surgical battle, seen, creating another layer of safety and confidence for surgeons that traditional visual aids can’t provide,” said Dr. Leonel Hunt, MD, Ocutrx Medical Advisor and attending surgeon at Cedars-Sinai Spine Center and Cedars-Sinai Orthopedic Center in Los Angeles.
If successful, this technology could reduce the need for blood-clearing techniques like suction, shorten surgical times, and increase precision during complex procedures. The innovation joins a growing field of computational imaging techniques aiming to augment surgical visibility through software rather than physical manipulation.
For now, the innovation remains a prototype. Promising on paper, it will have to pass clinical studies and regulatory hurdles before changing the surgical playbook.
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