For Dermatology Patients 

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How to Talk to a Doctor About VivaNet

The current standard for diagnosing skin cancer is to take a skin sample, or biopsy, and have this analyzed by a pathologist under a microscope. This method of analysis may not always be feasible, especially if the mole or lesion is at a cosmetically important site, or on someone with many lesions. In these cases, several noninvasive tools can be used as an improvement upon a diagnosis by the naked eye. Of these alternative approaches, only the VivaScope can illuminate the deeper layers of skin with enough resolution for diagnosis. These captured images can be analyzed by a specialist with a high degree of accuracy.

VivaScopes are now used in major U.S. teaching hospitals and international institutions such as the Duke University Comprehensive Cancer Center, the Mayo Clinic, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and have been featured on the NBC Nightly News, the Today Show and a wide variety of other domestic and international news outlets. More than 150 peer-reviewed articles have been published on the subject in leading scientific and medical journals.

The VivaScope is a quick, painless and non-scarring diagnostic imaging tool that assists physicians in diagnosing skin cancers and other dermatologic conditions. This noninvasive imaging procedure takes only a few minutes and begins with the capture of a dermatoscopic image of the area of concern. This full-color, high-resolution photograph of the area is used for reference and can also be used to navigate the lesion with the VivaScope.

The specially designed confocal imaging head is used to capture high-resolution, cellular images of thin layers of the skin at various depths.

Once the entire image set has been captured, the images and pertinent patient information are transmitted over a secure, HIPAA-compliant network to another medical specialist (typically a dermatopathologist) for review.

The dermatopathologist generates a report that includes their findings and impressions of the patient’s lesion. This report is returned to the referring physician and is also securely stored for future review on the VivaNet® server. Once your physician has the report, he or she will review the findings with you and determine any necessary follow up steps.

Only your doctor can determine if the VivaScope method of skin imaging is right for you. This information is not intended as a supplement or alternative for healthcare. The information provided is merely for educational purposes and its accuracy is not guaranteed. Do not use this information as a substitute for medical care or medical advice. Please consult with your physician or other medical care provider regarding any medical questions you may have.

Contact Lucid, Inc. for more information.