Pen sized microscope to efficiently see cancer cells

Washington: A hand-held, miniature microscope roughly the size of a pen can allow surgeons to "see" at a cellular level in the operating room and determine where to stop cutting the tumour to kill only cancerous cells and protect healthy cells.

The new technology, developed by mechanical engineers at the University of Washington in collaboration with the Stanford University and the Barrow Neurological Institute, delivers high-quality images at faster speeds than existing devices.

Researchers, including an Indian-origin scientist, expect to begin testing it as a cancer-screening tool in clinical settings next year. "Surgeons don't have a very good way of knowing when they are done cutting out a tumour," said senior author Jonathan Liu from University of Washington.

"Being able to zoom and see at the cellular level during the surgery would really help them to accurately differentiate between tumour and normal tissues and improve patient outcomes," Liu added. A miniature microscope with high enough resolution to detect changes at a cellular level could be used in dental or dermatological clinics to better assess which lesions or moles are normal and which ones need to be biopsied.