In a significant boost for indigenous medical innovation, the Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) has announced the publication of six joint Indian utility patent applications. This landmark achievement is a cornerstone of a strategic research partnership designed to transform Mandya into a leading hub for Medical Artificial Intelligence and Robotics within Karnataka.
A Collaborative Leap in Surgical Precision
Developed in collaboration with the med-tech startup ManMed Dynamics, these patents are centered on a groundbreaking project titled 'Smart Surgical Margins: AI-Powered Real-Time Cancer Residual Detection Using Fluorescence Imaging.' The core objective is to dramatically improve outcomes in cancer surgery. The technology empowers surgeons to identify and remove leftover tumour tissue in real-time while meticulously preserving healthy tissue. This is achieved by combining Near-Infrared (NIR) Indocyanine Green (ICG) fluorescence imaging with advanced artificial intelligence algorithms.
The suite of published patents encompasses the entire research framework. This includes innovations in NIR imaging systems, rigorous quality-assurance protocols, structured specimen mapping techniques, edge-based AI analysis, and pathology-verified model validation. Officials highlighted that together, these components establish a regulated and reproducible model for developing medical AI within a government medical institution, a rare feat in the public sector.
Foundation for a Public Health Innovation Hub
The research is firmly grounded in ethical and regulatory standards. The study is registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI) and has received the necessary approval from the Institutional Ethics Committee at MIMS. The initial phase of the project is being supported by the Multidisciplinary Research Unit (MRU-MIMS) under the Department of Health Research-Indian Council of Medical Research (DHR-ICMR) framework.
Current work is focused on the pathology laboratory, utilizing excised breast and colorectal tumour specimens. Here, the findings from the AI analysis are meticulously compared against traditional histopathology reports, the gold standard in diagnosis. This "lab-first" approach is crucial for ensuring patient safety and generating robust, evidence-based validation before clinical deployment.
Building Long-Term Capability in Mandya
This patent milestone is not an isolated event but part of a larger vision. ManMed Dynamics and MRU-MIMS are actively constructing Karnataka's Medical AI and Robotics hub at MIMS, Mandya. This hub will host multiple pioneering research projects, including:
- Aetheris: A humanoid surgical assistant.
- OncoVision: The cancer residual detection system covered by the new patents.
- WoundScope: For advanced wound mapping.
- MediTrack: A digital OPD platform.
- NeuroLens: An NLP tool for neurology.
- Dose-Cal: A paediatric dosage calculator.
- A dedicated water birth research and service platform.
The goal is to create an ecosystem where such innovations can be rigorously validated and seamlessly deployed in public hospital settings, directly benefiting the broader population.
Dr P Narasimhaswamy, Director of MIMS, stated that this accomplishment demonstrates that advanced, patent-worthy medical AI research is entirely feasible within public institutions. N Lingaraju, a co-project investigator, emphasized that the laboratory-first validation strategy safeguards patients while creating pathology-verified evidence. Vishwas Gowda PN, technical project investigator and co-founder of ManMed Dynamics, noted that these patents are instrumental for long-term capability building—creating labs, instrument ecosystems, and audited AI models—ultimately positioning Mandya as a nucleus for scalable public-health innovation.
