Update on AAPM task group 311: guidance for technical performance evaluation for fluorescence guided surgery systems (Conference Presentation)

The large growth in fluorescence guided surgical (FGS) imaging have radically different physical designs, image processing approaches and performance requirements, making it nearly impossible to specify uniform performance goals. Yet, utilization of different devices in clinical trials indicates some need for common knowledge bases and quality assessment goals to ensure accurate and effective translation occurs. This task group identified fundamental image quality characteristics corresponding objective test methods that should be determined across a variety of FGS devices. This report outlines a cohort of explicit test methods and specific tissue simulating phantom tests, with the goal of suggested guidelines that will allow evaluative and comparative studies on system performance. This initiative is expected to help users and developers focus on needs while converging towards future goals.