LUCA · Project

Combined Laser-Ultrasound Device That Cuts Unnecessary Thyroid Surgeries

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Right now, when doctors find a lump on your thyroid, they do an ultrasound and often a needle biopsy — but those tests give a lot of false alarms, sending people into surgery they don't actually need. The LUCA team built a device that shines near-infrared light into the tissue while also doing an ultrasound, reading both the structure and the blood flow of the nodule at the same time. Think of it like combining an X-ray with a thermal camera — each one alone misses things, but together they give doctors a much clearer picture. The goal is a quick, bedside screening that tells doctors with far more confidence whether a thyroid lump is actually dangerous.

By the numbers

Prevalence of palpable thyroid nodules in women

Prevalence of palpable thyroid nodules in men

19-76%

Thyroid nodule prevalence when neck ultrasound is used

5-15%

Percentage of thyroid nodules that are cancerous

Consortium partners across 5 countries

Industrial partners in the consortium (including 3 SMEs)

Total project deliverables produced

The business problem

What needed solving

Thyroid nodules are extremely common — found in up to 5% of women by touch alone, and in 19-76% when ultrasound is used. The current diagnostic path (ultrasound followed by needle biopsy) produces a high rate of false positives and inconclusive results, sending patients into unnecessary thyroid removal surgeries. Each unnecessary surgery costs the healthcare system thousands of euros and exposes patients to lifelong hormone replacement therapy.

The solution

What was built

The consortium built a fully functional combined optical-ultrasound screening device (the LUCA system) with a multi-modal probe that integrates near-infrared spectroscopy and ultrasound. They delivered a final demonstrator with upgrades, the fully functional system for clinical demonstration, and an optical-ultrasound phantom testing kit — totaling 22 deliverables across the project.

Audience

Who needs this

Medical device companies manufacturing ultrasound or diagnostic imaging equipmentPoint-of-care diagnostics companies targeting endocrinology or oncology screeningPhotonics and optical sensor manufacturers supplying the biomedical sectorHospital networks and private clinic chains with high-volume thyroid screening programsHealth technology assessment bodies and insurance companies evaluating cost-effective screening

Business applications

Who can put this to work

Medical device manufacturing

enterprise

Target: Ultrasound and diagnostic imaging equipment manufacturers

If you are a medical device company already producing ultrasound systems — this project developed a fully functional combined optical-ultrasound probe and integrated system that adds near-infrared spectroscopy to standard ultrasound. The technology addresses a massive screening gap: 5-15% of thyroid nodules are cancerous, but current methods produce large numbers of false positives leading to unnecessary surgeries. Licensing or co-developing this add-on module could differentiate your product line in the thyroid imaging market.

Clinical diagnostics and point-of-care testing

mid-size

Target: Point-of-care diagnostic device companies

If you are a diagnostics company building bedside screening tools — LUCA produced a point-of-care, low-cost screening device that combines photonics with ultrasound for thyroid nodule assessment. The device was built as a fully functional demonstrator with 3 dedicated demo deliverables across 22 total project outputs. With palpable thyroid nodule prevalence at 5% in women and 1% in men, the addressable patient population is enormous.

Photonics and optical components

SME

Target: Manufacturers of biomedical photonics components and optical sensors

If you are a photonics company producing near-infrared sensors or optical components for medical applications — LUCA developed key enabling photonic components and sub-systems including diffuse correlation spectroscopy and time-resolved spectroscopy modules integrated into a clinical probe. The consortium included 3 industrial partners and 3 SMEs covering the full value chain. This represents a proven integration path for your optical components into a regulated medical device.

Frequently asked

Quick answers

What would it cost to bring this device to market?

The project data does not disclose unit manufacturing costs or projected pricing. However, the objective explicitly describes this as a 'low-cost screening device' designed for point-of-care use, which suggests the consortium targeted a price point accessible to hospitals and outpatient clinics, not just large research centers.

Can this technology scale to industrial production?

The consortium included 3 industrial partners covering what the project describes as 'the whole value-chain,' from photonic components to system integration. A fully functional LUCA system and a final demonstrator with upgrades were delivered, indicating the design moved well beyond lab prototypes. Manufacturing scale-up would require regulatory clearance (CE marking for medical devices) as the next step.

What is the IP situation and how can I license this technology?

The project involved 9 partners across 5 countries (AT, ES, FR, IT, UK), so IP is likely shared under a consortium agreement. The coordinator is Fundació Institut de Ciències Fotòniques (ICFO) in Spain, a leading photonics research institute. Licensing discussions would need to go through the consortium's IP framework.

Has this been tested on real patients?

The project delivered a 'fully functional LUCA system' described as a demonstrator, plus a 'final LUCA demonstrator with upgrades' and an optical-ultrasound phantom kit for testing. The phantom kit suggests systematic validation was performed. Based on available project data, clinical validation with patients was part of the project scope given end-user participation by endocrinologists and radiologists.

What regulatory approvals does this need?

As a medical diagnostic device combining optical and ultrasound modalities, it would require CE marking under the EU Medical Device Regulation (MDR) and FDA clearance for the US market. The project was an Innovation Action (IA), which targets higher technology readiness, but regulatory approval timelines for new diagnostic modalities typically run 2-4 years post-development.

How does this integrate with existing hospital equipment?

The LUCA system was designed as a point-of-care device combining a multi-modal probe with an integrated system. It does not replace existing ultrasound — it adds optical spectroscopy capabilities. Based on the project objective, it is intended to fit into the existing clinical workflow where ultrasound is the first screening step for thyroid nodules.

What is the market size for thyroid screening?

The project objective states that palpable thyroid nodule prevalence is around 5% in women and 1% in men, rising to 19-76% when neck ultrasound is used. With 5-15% of those nodules being cancerous and current methods producing many false positives leading to unnecessary surgeries, the objective notes this implies 'savings of millions of euros per year' from reduced thyroidectomies alone.

Consortium

Who built it

The LUCA consortium brings together 9 partners from 5 countries (Austria, Spain, France, Italy, UK), with a balanced mix of 4 research organizations, 2 universities, and 3 industry players — 3 of which are SMEs. The 33% industry ratio is solid for a medical device project, and the project objective explicitly states that industrial partners 'cover the whole value-chain,' from photonic components to clinical end-use. The coordinator, ICFO in Spain, is a world-class photonics institute. End-users (endocrinologists and radiologists) participated directly in the consortium, which means the device was designed around real clinical workflows rather than lab assumptions. For a business looking to license or co-develop, the mix of research depth and industry presence means the technology has both scientific credibility and a realistic path to productization.

FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUESCoordinator · ES
THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAMparticipant · UK
EIBIR GEMEINNUTZIGE GMBH ZUR FORDERUNG DER ERFORSCHUNG DER BIOMEDIZINISCHEN BILDGEBUNGparticipant · AT
FUNDACIO DE RECERCA CLINIC BARCELONA-INSTITUT D INVESTIGACIONS BIOMEDIQUES AUGUST PI I SUNYERparticipant · ES
POLITECNICO DI MILANOparticipant · IT
HEMOPHOTONICS SLparticipant · ES
HOSPITAL CLINIC DE BARCELONAthirdparty · ES
VERMON SAparticipant · FR

How to reach the team

The coordinator is Fundació Institut de Ciències Fotòniques (ICFO) in Barcelona, Spain. SciTransfer can facilitate a direct introduction to the project team.

Order a report on this consortium See FUNDACIO INSTITUT DE CIENCIES FOTONIQUES profile →

Next steps

Talk to the team behind this work.

Want to explore licensing or co-development of the LUCA thyroid screening technology? SciTransfer can connect you directly with the consortium's industrial partners and provide a detailed technology brief. Contact us for a matchmaking consultation.

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