Background
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Bringing surgery to the 21st century

The concept


Olfactomics is a Finnish university-based spinoff company developing a novel technology for surgical tissue assessment.

We focus on improving breast-concerving lumpectomies where residual tumor continues to be an issue. Realtime tissue analysis allows the surgeon to remove the whole tumor in one operation and minimize the resection of healthy tissues.

Our goal is to save 100 000 women from unnecessary reoperations and one billion dollars in healthcare costs.


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The technology

The heart of Olfactomics' technology is a differential ion mobility spectrometry (DMS) sensor. Unlike traditional mass spectrometry, DMS does not require vacuum, and it reduces costs and maintenance burdren to a fraction.

The system consists of sample preparation, sensor and data analysis, leading to diagnosis. The pinciple is very similar to the way we humans use our olfaction to our advantage:

eNose principle
  • Volatile compunds are sucked into an apparatus that optimizes the temperature, moisture and consentration of the sample.
  • The compounds interact with the olfactory cells or an artificial sensor, creating electrical signals.
  • Electric signals are relayed to brains or a computer that filter and analyze the signals.
  • Signals are associated with previous knowledge. A diagnosis is made.

Through a decade of research, Olfactomics' team has succeeded to make key breakthoughs in sample preparation, allowing rapid analysis of gas mixtures that were previously unfeasible, at an affordable cost.

The foundation of our company is the scientific method. In references you will find selected publications from our team. Several papers on the Olfactomics' surgical technology are currently under review.

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The Team

Our team is characterized by a close connection between the clinic, the university, engineering and business professionals.

The practising surgeons of our team constantly spar ideas with our engineering team, resulting in agile, clinic-driven development.

We work closely with medical device manufacturers, sensor companies and the software industry to create maximum accuracy, reliability and value.

News

Olfactomics acguires SME1 grant from European Union Horizon 2020 program

29.6.2018

Olfactomics received a grant from European Unions SME Horizon 2020 program. Only 3% of the applicants are funded.

Read more: Press release (in Finnish)

An article on Olfactomics technology in discrimination of animal tissues was just published

24.4.2018

A research paper by Anton Kontunen describing differential mobility spectrometry was published on highly regarded Annals of Biomedical Engineering!

Read more: Annals of Biomedical Engineering

Niku Oksala tells about Olfactomics technology on Helsingin sanomat

3.1.2018

Olfactomics co-founder Niku Oksala was interviewed by Helsingin sanomat on his life as a surgeon, academic, inventor and entrepeneur. Olfactomics tissue detection technology plays a major role.

Read more: Helsingin sanomat

Olfactomics results presented at The Operative days of the Finnish Society of Surgery

16.11.2017

An oral presentation on the results acquired with Olfactomics technology in breast cancer were presented at The Operative days of the Finnish Society of Surgery.

Read more: Finnish Society of Surgery

Olfactomics joins the SPARK Finland

29.9.2017

Olfactomics is now part of Stanford-bred medtech incubator.

Read more: SPARK Finland - New SPARKees join the program

Electronic nose `smells` cancer

22.9.2017

MSc Anton Kontunen explains how surgical smoke can tell whether the tissue is cancerous or not.

Read more: Interface science magazine - Electronic nose `smells` cancer

What does cancer smell like?

11.9.2016

Professor Jouko Vepsäinen from University of Eastern Finland discusses the smell of cancer, the molecules behind it. The detection of prostate cancer by eNose is pointed out.

Read more: UEF bulletin - What does cancer smell like?

Electronic nose speeds up the diagnosis of urinary tract infection

7.1.2015

"A joint project between researchers at the University of Tampere and Tampere University of Technology has resulted in the development of an electronic nose, which is capable of detecting pathogens that cause urinary tract infections."

Read the whole article from Medscape

Sniffing out Prostate Cancer from Dogs to the eNose

7.1.2015

"It is always humbling to see how much you can miss in trying to keep up with medicine's developments, even in an incredibly narrow area like prostate cancer."

Read the whole article from Asco Connection

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References

Scientific results are the basis of our operation.

Tissue Identification in a Porcine Model by Differential Ion Mobility Spectrometry Analysis of Surgical Smoke

Kontunen A, Karjalainen M, Lekkala J, Roine A, Oksala N.
Ann Biomed Eng. First Online: 24 April 2018. doi: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10439-018-2035-5.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs10439-018-2035-5

Electronic Nose in the Detection of Wound Infection Bacteria from Bacterial Cultures: A Proof-of-Principle Study

Saviauk T, Kiiski JP, Nieminen MK, Tamminen NN, Roine AN, Kumpulainen PS, Hokkinen LJ, Karjalainen MT, Vuento RE, Aittoniemi JJ, Lehtimäki TJ, Oksala NK.
Eur Surg Res. 2018 Jan 10;59(1-2):1-11. doi: 10.1159/000485461.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29320769

Rapid and accurate detection of urinary pathogens by mobile IMS-based electronic nose: a proof-of-principle study

Roine A, Saviauk T, Kumpulainen P, Karjalainen M, Tuokko A, Aittoniemi J, Vuento R, Lekkala J, Lehtimäki T, Tammela TL, Oksala NK.
PLoS One. 2014 Dec 19;9(12):e114279. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0114279.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25526592

Detection of prostate cancer by an electronic nose: a proof of principle study

Roine A, Veskimäe E, Tuokko A, Kumpulainen P, Koskimäki J, Keinänen TA, Häkkinen MR, Vepsäläinen J, Paavonen T, Lekkala J, Lehtimäki T, Tammela TL, Oksala NK.
J Urol. 2014 Jul;192(1):230-4. doi: 10.1016/j.juro.2014.01.113.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24582536

Detection of smell print differences between nonmalignant and malignant prostate cells with an electronic nose

Roine A, Tolvanen M, Sipiläinen M, Kumpulainen P, Helenius MA, Lehtimäki T, Vepsäläinen J, Keinänen TA, Häkkinen MR, Koskimäki J, Veskimäe E, Tuokko A, Visakorpi T, Tammela TL, Sioris T, Paavonen T, Lekkala J, Helle H, Oksala NK.
Future Oncol. 2012 Sep;8(9):1157-65. doi: 10.2217/fon.12.93.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23030490

In cooperation with

We work closely with the academic and industrial sectors.

Contact us

Want to hear more about us? Are You the missing link in our growing team of professionals? Don't hesitate to contact us! Please fill out the form and we will be in touch.

 info@olfactomics.fi