Digital Camera Can Scan for Cancer in Patient in Real Time

Rice University was able to use an Olympus E-330 digital camera to scan the cancerous cell. It is reported that the researchers are able to view the cancer cells in a patient’s body by making a slight modifications to the digital camera. The research was collaboration between the biomedical enginners from Rice University and cancer researchers in University of Texas. The report was first mentioned in PLoS One in this week.

Rebecca Richards Kortum pointed out that it is possible for commercial camera to be used for scanning the internal organ in the body. She said that the commercial camera helps to reduce the expensive cost of ultrascan in developing countries. The camera can be used to diagnose patients in poor developing countries.

The research team attaches a group of wire to the Olympus digital camera. To make the image of the cell clearer, they applied the fluorescent dye. The fluorescent causes the imaging of the nuclei cell to glow brightly.

According to Mark Pierce, a staff from the bioengineering faculty, the dyes that the researcher used is the same as those used by pathologists. The dye helps the researcher to easily discern the cancerous cells. The scanning process is also less painful because the imaging cable is small.

Rebecca said that the software developers can develop a kind of software that allows non pathologist to discern cancerous cells from healthy cells. By using this device, many doctors can perform the cancer screening to see how the patients are doing after receiving treatment.  The spokesman from the Rice University said that it will take some time for the method to be approved before it can be introduce into the hospitals. Despite that, Rebecca has already used it to test healthy cells from her mouth.

Using digital camera to scan for cancerous cells can help to save a great deal of money. Many hospitals can use it widely as it is not as expensive as the traditional imaging equipment.