Dr. Karen Cross, a plastic and reconstructive surgeon and CEO of MIMOSA Diagnostics, saw countless patients with diabetes and chronic wounds in her clinic. People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing pressure wounds due to complications like poor circulation and nerve damage. Many of her patients came into her clinic too late to prevent complications and ultimately had lower extremity amputations to prevent fatal infections. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s incredibly challenging to adjust to life post-amputation while managing advanced diabetes,\u201d said Dr. Cross.<\/p>\n
In addition to her professional experience, both of Dr. Cross\u2019s grandfathers died from complications due to wounds. Despite her expertise and numerous phone calls to ensure her grandfather received the care he needed, it was not enough. Her experiences with patients in her clinic and her grandfathers drove her to innovate a better solution for patients and clinicians. <\/p>\n
\u201cThere had to be a better way to assess tissue health for patients to prevent further complications,\u201d said Dr. Cross.<\/p>\n
She knew that if care providers had a way to see beneath the skin\u2019s surface, they could intervene sooner. For instance, if the patient\u2019s blood flow was compromised, they could be referred to a vascular specialist to help restore blood flow. By the time wounds become noticeable on the outside of the skin, a much larger area below the surface is already damaged, and there is a higher likelihood of infections or other issues.<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]
Over the next few years, Dr. Cross and her co-founder, Dr. General Leung, and their team developed a pocket-sized device called the MIMOSA Pro. The device provides vital information about the health of tissue. In a single snapshot, clinicians can gather four key insights that help them determine the patient\u2019s tissue health and the best next steps in patient care. These insights include tissue oxygenation (blood flow), thermography (inflammation and infection), a high-dynamic range digital image, and wound measurements. Once captured, the images and data are uploaded to a secure web portal where clinicians can evaluate patient healing over time and determine if changes to the treatment plan are needed.<\/p>\n
<\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/inovait.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/6528307fcf31635feed0e2e2_laptop-and-device-scaled.webp” title_text=”6528307fcf31635feed0e2e2_laptop and device” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]
As Chris Boodoo, Head of Clinical Affairs at MIMOSA Diagnostics, describes it: \u201cThey took some of the key capabilities of imaging technologies from the lab, which were nearly 14 feet tall and 200 pounds, and shrunk it down to a handheld, pocket-sized imaging device that can be easily used at any point-of-care.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThe MIMOSA Pro is up and coming in Canada and quite popular in the U.S.,\u201d says Boodoo, explaining it\u2019s being used in wound care clinics and long-term care homes to identify patients at risk of developing ulcers or pressure injuries. If they do develop these injuries, the MIMOSA Pro can demonstrate whether the blood supply is adequate to promote healing on its own or if interventions are required, empowering patients and caregivers to be more involved in their care journey.<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/inovait.ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/MIMOSA-Pro-Clinician-Showing-Patient-Images.png” title_text=”MIMOSA Pro Clinician Showing Patient Images” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” type=”4_4″ theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Lato||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”] Currently, nurses examine the skin for tears or discoloration to prevent wounds and pressure injuries. However, these naked eye assessments are limited because they can only see what\u2019s happening outside of the skin. Additionally, vision assessments are challenging when assessing tissue health for individuals with darker skin tones. \u201cThis is because the visual signs of potential wounds are not as obvious,\u201d says Boodoo. With its ability to see below the skin\u2019s surface, the MIMOSA Pro addresses these challenges.<\/p>\n Now that the MIMOSA Pro is being used in care settings across North America, MIMOSA Diagnostics is leveraging funding from INOVAIT to build an AI tool that can predict patient outcomes.<\/p>\n To incorporate AI into the MIMOSA Pro, they are using anonymized data gathered from their devices and then linking that data with each patient\u2019s condition over time. By learning from hundreds of patients, the hope is that the AI component could identify the specific combinations of tissue health qualities that should be flagged for even earlier intervention.<\/p>\n The MIMOSA Pro represents a significant advancement in wound care, offering clinicians a powerful tool to not only assess tissue health but also to intervene proactively. The MIMOSA Pro is already leading to better outcomes. As an example, Boodoo shares the story of an early-stage pressure injury in a patient with a darker skin tone. \u201cWhen the clinician took an image with the MIMOSA Pro, they were surprised by the scale of the injury. It helped them to advocate for that patient\u2019s care,\u201d he says. \u201cOur goal is to create equitable technologies for everyone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" La Dre Karen Cross, chirurgienne plasticienne et reconstructrice, cheffe de la direction de MIMOSA Diagnostics, a vu d\u2019innombrables personnes atteintes de diab\u00e8te et pr\u00e9sentant des plaies chroniques dans sa clinique. Les diab\u00e9tiques ont un plus grand risque d\u2019avoir des escarres en raison de complications comme une mauvaise circulation et des l\u00e9sions neurologiques. Beaucoup de personnes sont venues trop tard \u00e0 sa clinique pour pr\u00e9venir les complications et ont finalement d\u00fb subir une amputation au niveau des membres inf\u00e9rieurs pour \u00e9viter des infections mortelles. <\/p>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":5929,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5928","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest-publications"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n