The different pathways between the position of a near-infrared camera and the user’s eye limit the use of existing near-infrared fluorescence imaging systems for tumor margin assessments. By utilizing an optical system that precisely matches the near-infrared fluorescence image and the optical path of visible light, we developed an augmented reality (AR)-based fluorescence imaging system that provides users with a fluorescence image that matches the real-field, without requiring any additional algorithms. Commercial smart glasses, dichroic beam splitters, mirrors, and custom near-infrared cameras were employed to develop the proposed system, and each mount was designed and utilized. After its performance was assessed in the laboratory, preclinical experiments involving tumor detection and lung lobectomy in mice and rabbits by using indocyanine green (ICG) were conducted. The results showed that the proposed system provided a stable image of fluorescence that matched the actual site. In addition, preclinical experiments confirmed that the proposed system could be used to detect tumors using ICG and evaluate lung lobectomies. The AR-based intraoperative smart goggle system could detect fluorescence images for tumor margin assessments in animal models, without disrupting the surgical workflow in an operating room. Additionally, it was confirmed that, even when the system itself was distorted when worn, the fluorescence image consistently matched the actual site.

In accordance with many disease occurrences, stem cell research has become an important study. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) is one of representative materials of stem cell research. MSCs are multipotent progenitor cells that can differentiate into various cell types including osteocytes, adipocytes, chondrocytes, myocytes, stromal cells and neurons. MSCs have been derived from bone marrow, umbilical cord, umbilical cord blood, fat, and other body organs. Among them, human inferior turbinate and nasal septal cartilages are good materials for extraction of MSCs. For extraction of MSCs, we used MSC extraction protocol from ARCO sensorineural laboratory. In order to identified extracted MSCs, Immunofluorescence to CD90 and CD73 (or CD105) cell-surface markers of MSCs was performed using the MSC phenotyping kit (Miltenyi Biotec, Germany). hMSCs derived from inferior turbinate and nasal septal cartilage were shown positive results. Further study, more studies need to comparative analysis of differentiated target cells from our MSCs.