FormaPath unveiled a new automated tissue visualization system (ATVS) called nToto that was developed in collaboration with Mayo Clinic’s Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory. 

The new ATVS was announced un conjunction with a poster presentation at the United States and Canada Association of Pathologists Annual (USCAP) meeting titled “Current State of Intra-/Interobserver Accuracy and Reproducibility in Tissue Biopsy Grossing and Comparison to an Automated Vision System.”

Grossing Platform for Tissue Biopsies

Common grossing metrics have not been captured or examined before, due to a lack of standardization in tissue grossing techniques. The goal of the study was to characterize and quantify inter- and intra-operator variability in routine gross dissection procedures performed by human technicians.

Using the results of this study to establish a baseline for comparison, FormaPath was able to confirm the feasibility of an AI-enabled, automated grossing system for standard tissue biopsies.

The nToto Automated Tissue Visualization System

The new nToto system combines robotics and computer vision technology, powered by a proprietary model, which validates samples during specimen intake, transfers them to the appropriate tissue cassettes, and populates the digital grossing report with previously uncaptured data points.

Supporting Lab Workflow

The system is intended to support high-throughput AP Labs seeking to streamline the process of preparing tissue specimens for downstream analysis and reporting, the company says. This new system also helps mitigate the chronic labor shortage affecting the entire lab sector, relieving the lab staff of repetitive and tedious tasks.

The first nToto system is now in beta testing at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, and production units will be rolled-out to several other labs later this year, with full commercialization in 2025. 

Further reading: COLA Gets Extension of Deeming Reapproval in Pathology and Lab Accreditation

Featured image: FormaPath revealed nToto at the USCAP 2024 Annual Meeting. Photo: FormaPath