Research
Science from Linköping University
FluoRa is built on more than fifteen years of research within the Neuroengineering Group at the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Linköping University, carried out together with the Department of Neurosurgery at Linköping University Hospital.
Neuroengineering Group, Linköping University
The group, led by Professor Karin Wårdell, develops optical and image-based methods for guidance and monitoring in the brain. Its work spans fluorescence spectroscopy, laser Doppler flowmetry, quantitative MRI and patient-specific simulation, translated directly into the neurosurgical theatre. FluoLink AB commercialises this research as the FluoRa platform.
All publications at liu.se →Key publications
Optical guidance in neurosurgery — peer-reviewed selection.
- 01
Klint E, Richter J, Wårdell K. Combined use of frameless neuronavigation and in situ optical guidance in brain tumor needle biopsies. Brain Sci. 2023;13:809.
- 02
Wårdell K, Klint E, Milos P, Richter J. One-insertion stereotactic brain biopsy using in-vivo optical guidance — a case study. Operative Neurosurgery. 2023;00:1–7.
- 03
Klint E, Mauritzon S, Ragnemalm B, Richter J, Wårdell K. FluoRa — a system for combined fluorescence and microcirculation measurements in brain tumor surgery. Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2021 Nov:1512–1515. doi:10.1109/EMBC46164.2021.9629801. PMID: 34891572.
- 04
Wårdell K, Klint E, Richter J. Probe-based fluorescence spectroscopy for in situ brain tumor measurements during resection and needle biopsies. Biomedicines. 2025;13(3):537:1–12. Review.
- 05
Wårdell K, Richter J, Zsigmond P. Cerebral microcirculation: progress and outlook of laser Doppler flowmetry in neurosurgery and neurointensive care. Microcirculation. 2024;31(8):1–12, 12884. Review. First published 28 September 2024.
- 06
Richter J, Haj-Hosseini N, Milos P, Hallbeck M, Wårdell K. Optical brain biopsy with a fluorescence and vessel tracing probe. Operative Neurosurgery. 2021 Jun. doi:10.1093/ons/opab216.
- 07
Zsigmond P, Hemm-Ode S, Wårdell K. Optical measurements during deep brain stimulation lead implantation: safety aspects. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg. 2018;95(6):392–399. doi:10.1159/000484944.
- 08
Richter J, Haj-Hosseini N, Hallbeck M, Wårdell K. Combination of hand-held probe and microscopy for fluorescence guided surgery in the brain tumor marginal zone. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2017;18:185–192.
- 09
Wårdell K, Hemm-Ode S, Rejmstad P, Zsigmond P. High resolution laser Doppler measurements of cerebral microcirculation in the deep brain structures: a method for potential vessel tracking. Stereotact Funct Neurosurg. 2016;94:1–9. doi:10.1159/000442894.
- 10
Wårdell K, Zsigmond P, Richter J, Hemm S. Relationship between laser Doppler signals and anatomy during deep brain stimulation electrode implantation toward the ventral intermediate nucleus and subthalamic nucleus. Neurosurgery. 2013;72(2 Suppl Operative):ons127–140. doi:10.1227/NEU.0b013e31827e5821.
- 11
Klint E, Richter J, Hallbeck M, Blystad I, Golby A, Westin C-F, Wårdell K. Mapping brain tumor microstructure: a multimodal study of diffusion MRI, intraoperative fluorescence and neuropathology in navigated biopsies. NeuroImage: Clinical. 2026;49:103921. Available online 12 December 2025.
- 12
Klint E, Tisell A, Blystad I, Hallbeck M, Nordin T, Hillman J, Richter J, Wårdell K. Quantitative MRI relaxometry in brain tumor needle biopsies: multimodal comparison with tissue fluorescence, radiology, and neuropathology. PLoS One. 2025 Jul 7;20(7):e0326765. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0326765.
Doctoral theses
Elisabeth Klint
Multimodal brain tumor tissue identification: integration of optical guidance and quantitative MRI in neuronavigated biopsies
Linköping Studies in Science and Technology, Dissertation No. 2440, 2025
Johan Richter
Fluorescence guided resection of brain tumors: evaluation of a hand-held spectroscopic probe
Linköping University Medical Dissertation No. 1581, 2017