Perimeter Medical Imaging AI, Inc. (TSXV: PINK, OTCQX: PYNKF) is making waves in the world of medical technology by joining forces with Intermountain Health, one of the largest nonprofit health systems in the western United States. This partnership, formalized through a Development Support Agreement, marks the beginning of a collaborative effort to investigate how advanced imaging and artificial intelligence (AI) can improve cancer surgery outcomes, reduce the need for repeat operations, and potentially lower overall healthcare costs.
The initiative is rooted in a shared vision, leveraging technology to make cancer surgeries more precise and less burdensome for patients. Perimeter brings to the table its proprietary wide-field optical coherence tomography (OCT) technology, which provides real-time, cellular-level imaging of tissue removed during surgery. Intermountain Health, with its extensive network of hospitals and clinics, offers a unique vantage point for studying the real-world impact of these innovations.
The first planned study will be a retrospective analysis of reoperation rates and associated healthcare costs for patients who have undergone initial breast-conserving surgery (BCS) at select Intermountain Health sites. The goal is to gather robust data on how often patients require follow-up surgeries and the financial implications for both patients and payers.
Dr. Teresa Reading, medical director for breast surgery in the Canyons Region at Intermountain Health, sees significant potential in this collaboration. “Innovations like Perimeter’s OCT technology have the power to transform surgical oncology,” she says. “We’re excited to launch this study within our BCS patient population and, down the road, possibly extend it to other tissue types.”
Repeat surgeries are a common challenge in cancer care, particularly for patients undergoing breast-conserving procedures. When surgeons can’t confirm during the initial operation that all cancerous tissue has been removed, patients often face a second surgery. This not only adds to the emotional and physical toll on patients but also increases healthcare costs.
Perimeter’s OCT technology, especially when enhanced by AI, aims to address this problem by giving surgeons a clearer, real-time view of tissue margins. The hope is that this will reduce the number of patients needing reoperations, leading to better outcomes and more efficient use of healthcare resources.
Adrian Mendes, CEO of Perimeter, highlights the value of partnering with a fully integrated health system like Intermountain Health. “They’re not just a provider, they also have their own health plan, which means they can evaluate the total cost of cancer reoperations from multiple angles,” he explains. “This partnership will help us refine our commercial and market access strategies as we work toward FDA PMA approval for our next-generation, AI-enabled OCT system for breast cancer surgery, and eventually expand to other tissue types.”
Intermountain Health is a major player in the U.S. healthcare landscape, with 33 hospitals, about 400 clinics, and a health plan division called Select Health that serves over one million members. The organization is known for its commitment to evidence-based care and its leadership in healthcare transformation.
Perimeter, headquartered in Toronto and Dallas, is focused on developing advanced imaging tools for cancer surgery. Its FDA-cleared S-Series OCT system is already available in the U.S., while the investigational B-Series OCT with ImgAssist AI, recently evaluated in a pivotal clinical trial, is not yet available for sale. The company’s ticker symbol, PINK, is a nod to the pink ribbon symbolizing breast cancer awareness.
It’s worth noting that the Perimeter B-Series OCT is currently limited to investigational use in the U.S. and is not available for commercial sale. The S-Series has FDA clearance for general use but has not been specifically evaluated for breast tissue, cancer, or margin assessment. The safety and effectiveness for these specific uses have not yet been established.
This partnership between Perimeter and Intermountain Health is more than just a research collaboration, it’s a step toward redefining how cancer surgeries are performed and evaluated. By combining advanced imaging, AI, and real-world data, the two organizations are poised to make a meaningful impact on patient care and healthcare economics.
As the first study gets underway, the healthcare community will be watching closely. The results could pave the way for broader adoption of OCT and AI in surgical oncology, setting a new standard for precision and efficiency in cancer care.