Getting the right answer matters. Getting it at the right time can change everything.
For many veterinary professionals, the challenge isn’t whether pathology can provide answers—it’s whether those answers arrive soon enough to shape what happens next. Whether that’s closing up during a tumour resection or planning the next step in a treatment pathway, you’re often making critical decisions while waiting on confirmation.
But what if pathology didn’t have to be a delay in the process? What if insight could happen in real time?
Moving Insight Upstream
Pathology has always been essential, but it’s traditionally downstream—after the procedure, after the sample, after the wait. As medicine evolves, there’s growing interest in bringing that insight forward. Not to replace histology, but to complement it—providing faster context during procedures or consults when decisions matter most.
That’s where real-time cellular imaging is starting to reshape what’s possible. New approaches allow for high-resolution visualisation of tissue at the cellular level, without slide prep or sample shipping. The promise? Faster answers. Fewer repeat procedures. More control at the point of care.
A Shift in Workflow, Not Workload
For most clinics and hospitals, efficiency isn’t just a goal—it’s survival. Real-time imaging tools are gaining traction because they work with existing workflows. They don’t require rethinking how you practice, just reimagining when you get the information you need.
Whether it’s a margin check during resection, a quick look at abnormal tissue during a biopsy, or capturing images for remote consultation—these tools are about closing the gap between observation and action.
Looking Ahead
Real-time pathology isn’t a silver bullet, and it’s not here to replace what already works. But it does represent a shift in mindset: from reactive to responsive. From lagging indicators to live insights. It’s a way to stay in control, reduce uncertainty, and bring diagnostic confidence closer to the moment decisions are made.
For those already thinking ahead—about how to deliver better care, faster, and more efficiently—this evolution is worth watching.
FAQs:
Real-time imaging in veterinary medicine refers to the ability to visualise tissue at the cellular level instantly—without traditional biopsy processing or slide preparation. Technologies like confocal laser endomicroscopy (CLE) enable immediate tissue assessment during procedures, supporting fast clinical decisions and improved surgical precision.
InSpecta™ delivers high-resolution, real-time tissue imaging directly during veterinary procedures. Built on Optiscan’s confocal endomicroscopy platform, it enables rapid tissue characterisation, intraoperative guidance, and tumour margin assessment—without lab delays, and all at the point of care.
Confocal microscopy provides sub-cellular resolution and optical sectioning, allowing in vivo visualisation of tissue microarchitecture. This precision supports better lesion evaluation, margin assessment, and fewer invasive biopsies in oncology, soft tissue surgery, and other complex veterinary cases.
Yes. Real-time tissue imaging enables more accurate identification of tumour boundaries, reducing incomplete resections and minimising the need for additional surgeries. It also allows in-office tissue evaluation, supporting informed decision-making during a single clinical visit.
Absolutely. InSpecta™ is designed for both veterinary surgical use and research. Its ability to image live tissue at the cellular level makes it valuable for pathology, oncology studies, and translational research—helping to develop targeted treatments with faster, more accurate feedback.
Unlike ultrasound or radiology, InSpecta™ offers optical biopsy capability with real-time, slide-free, histological resolution imaging. It delivers digital pathology to the surgical suite or exam room—enabling direct visualisation of cells and tissue without staining or fixation.
In many cases, yes. While histopathology remains essential, InSpecta™ provides a minimally invasive alternative that offers immediate visual insights. This can reduce the need for repeat biopsies and streamline diagnostic workflows in veterinary clinics.
