CellTivity Hits 10K Procedures as Real-Time AI Reshapes Oncology Surgery

WALTHAM, Mass. – October 15, 2026 – In the turbulent landscape of 2026 healthcare commerce, the true currency is intraoperative intelligence. For years, the surgical supply chain has been bottlenecked by a fundamental limitation: the inability to definitively assess tissue viability at the microscopic level while the patient is still on the table. The result has been a costly cycle of indeterminate biopsies, delayed molecular testing, and agonizing repeat procedures. Today, however, that paradigm is shifting rapidly from experimental to essential.

CellTivity Scientific, a Waltham-based commercial-stage metabolic imaging company, announced today that its flagship Van Gogh Microscopy System has surpassed 10,000 patient procedures globally. This is not merely a numerical milestone; it is a clear indicator of a broader workflow evolution. With adoption spanning more than 60 health systems worldwide—and multiple individual centers now exceeding 1,000 procedures—the integration of real-time cellular imaging is moving out of the exploratory phase and into the standard of care.

As the company initiates its Series B financing round, the 10,000-procedure mark serves as a critical proof point. It demonstrates that the market is ready to embrace non-destructive, AI-driven diagnostic tools that de-risk the surgical process and streamline the path to precision oncology.

From Niche Tool to Standard of Care

The technological engine behind this adoption is Dynamic Cell Imaging (DCI). Unlike traditional methods that require tissue to be cut, stained, or fixed, the Van Gogh system utilizes a specialized phase-contrast microscope and advanced Michelson interferometry to capture residual microscopic intracellular movements in fresh tissue. It translates this metabolic activity into a color-coded "heat map" within minutes, allowing physicians to visualize cellular morphology and activity intraprocedurally.

Crucially, this process is non-destructive. The specimen is preserved entirely for subsequent histopathology and the increasingly complex molecular analysis required for modern targeted therapies.

“Reaching 10,000 patient procedures is an important milestone for CellTivity, but what is most meaningful is what we are seeing behind that number,” said CellTivity CEO Greg Bowles. “Multiple programs have now surpassed 1,000 procedures, demonstrating continued utilization of Van Gogh within established clinical workflows. At the same time, we are expanding internationally and seeing growing interest in Dynamic Cell Imaging across new specialties and procedural environments.”

The clinical evidence supporting this shift is robust. Two independent, investigator-led studies presented at the 2025 American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference underscored the system's impact on robotic bronchoscopy. A prospective study at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) demonstrated that DCI identified adequate tissue for molecular testing in 100 percent of confirmed malignant cases.

Perhaps more striking was a comparative study from the University of Chicago involving 94 robotic bronchoscopy cases. The research showed that DCI successfully interpreted 98 percent of samples, compared to just 54 percent for traditional Rapid Onsite Evaluation (ROSE). Furthermore, DCI reduced procedure times by an average of 11 minutes and slashed the indeterminate biopsy rate by more than half. Notably, the technology detected malignancy in 12 cases that were missed by ROSE, fundamentally altering the trajectory of patient care.

Beyond the Biopsy: The Competitive Landscape

The race to bring real-time metabolic AI to surgical suites is accelerating within an intraoperative imaging market projected to reach $7.5 billion by 2033. Yet, CellTivity has carved out a distinct competitive moat.

While traditional digital pathology offers immense value through remote consultation and AI integration, it fundamentally relies on scanning glass slides after tissue fixation—a process that cannot occur in real-time on fresh tissue during a procedure. Other point-of-care solutions, such as Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) or intraoperative MRI, provide macroscopic anatomical data but lack the cellular-level metabolic assessment necessary to differentiate malignant cells from benign tissue on the spot.

Technologies like Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) and Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy (CLE) offer in-vivo histological imaging, but Van Gogh’s ability to highlight elevated metabolic activity without destroying the sample provides a unique operational advantage. Medical industry analysts note that the preservation of sample integrity is becoming the defining requirement for modern cancer diagnostics, as downstream molecular profiling dictates therapeutic strategy.

Recognizing this broad applicability, CellTivity is aggressively expanding beyond its initial focus on lung cancer. The company is advancing the use of the Van Gogh system in advanced gastrointestinal and pancreatic procedures, including endoscopic ultrasound. Recent demonstrations at the European Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Conference highlighted the system's ability to provide real-time metabolic visualization during specimen acquisition for pancreatic cancer—a notoriously challenging disease where diagnostic precision is paramount.

Simultaneously, published research, including a July 2026 systematic review, has validated the technology for real-time microscopic assessment of lymph node tissue during gynecologic cancer surgery. This multi-organ expansion proves that the platform's utility is not confined to a single specialty, but rather addresses a universal challenge in surgical oncology.

Global Commercial Expansion and the Series B Horizon

The 10,000-procedure milestone arrives at a strategic inflection point for CellTivity. The company's commercial footprint has expanded significantly since its days operating as LLTech and subsequently Aquyre Biosciences. Following a 2025 rebranding and a strategic infusion of capital to enhance AI and machine learning integration, the firm has positioned itself as a leader in Diagnostic AI.

A major catalyst for this global traction was securing the European CE mark (a Class A IVDR designation) in late 2025. This regulatory clearance opened commercial availability across European markets, validating the system's safety and performance for broad applications across all biopsy types in the EU.

“The growth we are seeing across our established U.S. and European customers as well as new clinical applications confirms that Van Gogh reaches well beyond a single procedure or specialty,” Bowles stated. “As we prepare for our next series raise, our focus now is continuing to build the clinical evidence, partnerships, and infrastructure needed to make real-time cellular imaging available across a broader range of patient and care settings.”

As CellTivity Scientific currently raises its Series B financing, venture capital investors and biotech analysts are closely watching its trajectory. The funds are earmarked to accelerate commercial expansion, further advance the proprietary Diagnostic AI platform, and solidify its presence in emerging oncology applications.

In a 2026 healthcare environment defined by the imperative to "de-risk" operations and maximize workflow efficiency, technologies that eliminate diagnostic guesswork are no longer optional upgrades. They are the new baseline. By bridging the gap between immediate intraprocedural insight and long-term molecular viability, CellTivity is not just selling a microscopy system; it is architecting a more resilient, efficient, and precise future for global oncology.