Integrated Technology Suite - ASP Prep, ASP View, ASP Assist

Problem

Pathology is one of the most critical steps in the diagnostic process, yet it remains largely dependent on centralized laboratory workflows. This reliance on off-site testing can delay results, slowing clinical decision-making and treatment at the point of care. In procedures such as fine needle aspiration (FNA), the inability to immediately assess specimen quality often results in inadequate samples, leading to repeat procedures, increased patient risk, and higher healthcare costs.

These challenges are particularly acute in infectious disease settings, where delayed diagnoses can contribute to continued transmission and missed opportunities for timely intervention. The need for a faster, more standardized, and clinically integrated pathology workflow has created demand for technologies that bring high-quality specimen preparation, imaging, and assessment directly to the point of care.

Solution

ASP Health has developed an integrated pathology platform comprising ASP Prep^™, ASP View^™, and ASP Assist^™ to streamline the full workflow from specimen collection and preparation through imaging and interpretation at the point of care. ASP Prep^™ automates specimen deposition and staining with a single click, reducing operator variability and improving consistency, while the company’s patented monolayer technology creates a thin, uniform specimen layer for clearer visualization and more reliable analysis. ASP View^™ enables real-time digital imaging and remote collaboration with pathologists during procedures, and ASP Assist™ uses AI-powered decision support to assess specimen adequacy and identify regions of interest. Together with proprietary consumables designed to minimize cross-contamination, the platform integrates preparation, imaging, and assessment into a standardized workflow that supports reproducible, high-quality results.

Benefits

• Better Decisions: Standardized, high-quality specimens with real-time evaluation improve diagnostic confidence and support faster treatment decisions.
• Fewer Repeat Procedures: Reduces repeat biopsies, costs, and diagnostic delays while improving patient safety and the overall care experience.
• Broader Access: Streamlines point-of-care pathology, enables remote collaboration, and expands access to high-quality diagnostics across diverse clinical settings.

Technology & Commercialization Status

ASP Health’s platform is built on automated cytology sample preparation technology originally developed by McCormick Professors Vadim Backman and Hariharan Subramanian, whose work in optical pathology and cancer diagnostics established the foundation for standardized, high-quality specimen evaluation at the point of care.

Building on this foundation, Professor Subramanian led the translation of the technology from bench to bedside, expanding ASP Health beyond its original sample preparation focus into a fully integrated technology suite, ASP Prep^™, ASP View^™, and ASP Assist^™, designed to optimize end-to-end point-of-care pathology workflows, from specimen preparation to real-time evaluation and decision support. The platform has since been successfully commercialized and deployed across major academic medical centers and regional hospitals in both the United States and Europe.

Through these deployments, ASP Health has demonstrated the ability to reduce variability, improve sample quality, and enable real-time clinical decision-making at the point of care. 

Northwestern Inventors

Vadim Backman, PhD
Sachs Family Professor of Biomedical Engineering and Medicine
McCormick School of Engineering

Hariharan Subramanian, PhD, MBA
Research Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering
McCormick School of Engineering

Links

Website: https://asp-health.com/