Lumito Offers Pathology Scanners 'As-a-Service'
Digital pathology firm Lumito has launched a "Scan-as-a-Service" model for its scanners. The new offering provides labs with cloud-based OME-TIFF images without requiring them to purchase the hardware, lowering the barrier to entry for digital pathology adoption.
The global digital pathology market is projected to grow from USD 1.46 billion in 2025 to USD 2.75 billion by 2030. This growth is driven by the increasing adoption of digital solutions to improve lab efficiency and the rising incidence of cancer. However, the high upfront cost of digital pathology systems, which can range from $25,000 to over $270,000 per scanner, remains a significant barrier for many labs. Lumito's "Scan-as-a-Service" model is designed to lower this barrier, targeting researchers and lower-volume users who can evaluate the company's Scizys technology without a large capital investment. This approach aligns with a broader industry trend where even major players like Philips are shifting to subscription models to reduce the initial financial burden on customers. The company's core technology utilizes Upconverting Nanoparticles (UCNP) in its staining reagents, which, when paired with its scanner, produces high-contrast images without background autofluorescence. This is designed to make it easier for pathologists to identify cancer indicators and improves the potential for automated analysis using AI algorithms. To support its service, Lumito has partnered with German AI firm Katana Labs GmbH. Customers send their tissue samples, stained with Lumito's reagent kit, to be scanned. The resulting images are then uploaded to Katana Labs' cloud platform, PAIKON, where users can visualize and perform advanced, AI-powered image analysis. The output format, OME-TIFF (Open Microscopy Environment Tagged Image File Format), is a key aspect of the offering. It's an open, community-developed format designed for whole slide imaging, supporting multi-resolution "pyramidal" images and extensive metadata, which enhances interoperability with various third-party analysis software. Leading Lumito's commercialization strategy is Mattias Lundin, who took over as CEO in March 2021. His background includes extensive global sales experience in medical technology, notably as Vice President of Global Sales for CellaVision, a company specializing in digital imaging analyzers for diagnostics.
