A microscope can now diagnose diseased cells and remove them in a minimally invasive way.
Researchers have developed a new microscope that has the ability to diagnose skin cancers and perform highly precise surgical procedures. They describe this new technology in Science Advances.
Ultra-precise surgery
“Our microscope allows us to scan the epidermis quickly, and when we see suspicious or abnormal cell structure, we can perform ultra-precise surgery and treat the unwanted or diseased structure directly in the tissues, without cutting the skin,” explains Yimei Huang, co-lead author of the essay.
This microscope operates using an ultra-fast infrared laser beam. What sets it apart from previous technologies is that it is not only able to digitally scan living tissue, but also to treat it by intensifying the heat produced by the laser.
Treat immediately
When used to treat skin diseases, the microscope therefore allows medical professionals to identify the exact location of the abnormality, diagnose it and treat it immediately. It could also be used to treat any structure in the body that requires extremely precise treatment, including nerves or blood vessels in the skin, eyes, brain, or other vital structures.
“To diagnose and scan diseases like skin cancer, it could be revolutionary”, continues Harvey Lui, second co-author of the study. “We are not only the first to obtain high-speed video-rate imaging that allows clinical applications, but also the first to develop this technology for therapeutic purposes”, continues the study director.
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