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Swiping Out Cancer
mhackarbie writes "Just read this article over on Wired about a cheap hand scanner which might be able to spot cancer tumors. It took only few seconds of reflection before I decided this could be the killer biotech app which is needed for the dot-bio boom everyone keeps predicting someday." We've mentioned this gizmo before.
Tricorder? ...I knew you could.
Insurance companies as well.
Go to your job interview, pee in this cup, swipe this in your mouth.
In one simple step eliminate drug users, and possible insurance deadweights... Joy!
He tried to kill me with a forklift!
Is it just me or does anyone else find using the words killer biotech app a bit.. unlucky? Keep that thing away from me!
Of course it runs NetBSD. BTC: 1NT7QvbetmANwaMzhpVL6
As someone who has seen, at first hand, the horrors of undetected cancer, this could just the ticket.
My Father died from cancer last year. He had a secondary tumor removed a year before, but the specialists who saw him could apparently not detect a primary. It was clear to us that there was one (he was degenerating), but current detection techniques, apparently, couldn't find it. An autopsy was conducted when he died, at which point extensive cancer was located.
Part of the cure for cancer must surely be early, and accurate, detection. Let's hope this is part of it!
Discovery Channel had a show not too long ago about trained dogs being able to -smell- cancer on test subjects.
Not only would it not require development or be at the hands of some biotech CEO, but dogs have been shown to lower blood pressure in people.
Think of it: Handheld Schnauzer.
You could probably train basset hounds too, just so that PVP would have more material.
The fact the thing gives off microwaves probably means that it wont be for normal consumer use. The advantage is that it can be so every doctors office can have one or more. Because of its size. But I can see some person so worried about cancer who scans themselves all the time until the microwaves give him cancer.
If something is so important that you feel the need to post it on the internet... It probably isn't that important.
blakespot
-- Heisenberg may have slept here.
iPod Hacks.com
Bullpuckey.
Bio, a prefix meaning life/living organisms
tech, short for technology.
OK, we've got a handheld scanner that can be used to enhance/lengthen/improve a persons life. Seems like an application of techology to life/living organisms.
Biotech it is.
This is something that interestes me. My father died of cancer at the age of 56 and my mother survived it at the age of 44. I think I might have a high hereditary risk. The idea of cheaper detection methods is important. The cheaper it is to detect, the more frequently the tests will take place. Hopefully, this could become part of a yearly checkup.
For the record, neither of my parents were smokers. I think I might know how I am going to die.
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Squirrel
Now, it would of course be great if this actually worked, but I have to say I am very sceptical.
I find it difficult to believe that the system it uses will actually produce accurate results. The human body surely has lots of tissues in different structures and densities, and also of course there are lots of different types of cancer. Most importantly, you want to get cancers when they are small - tiny even. I find it hard to believe that this scanner could do that. If you've ever seen a small cancerous mole, for instance, you will understand.
When we're dealing with stuff like cancer, 95% (say) accuracy isn't enough. False positives result in a lot of stress for people until they have proper tests. False negatives of course have even worse consequences.
Complex problems don't have easy solutions. Cancer is complex.
"Experts will remain cautious until a study on TRIMprob's abilities has been examined in a peer-reviewed medical journal."
and from the earlier BBC article:
"The results have yet to be accepted for publication in a major medical journal - and the device will not find favour in hospitals elsewhere until they are."
This is the key point - without peer review, there's no way of verifying the claims of a company that is obviously in marketing mode.
Searching Medline for "Tissue Resonance InterferoMeter Probe" or "TRIMprob" turned up ZERO matches. Without good evidence, there is no reason to take this seriously as other than marketing fluff.
A quick scan and you could rest assured that your phone wasn't giving you cancer.
Until it does, that is.
I agree, and not just for cancer. I live in Canada and though health care is virtually free, not being able to 'buy the best advice' leaves me doubting every diagnosis, and in many cases rightfully so.
This type of device, if extended for other types of detection, could be exactly what 'Dr. Dad' needs to ensure the family is in general good heath without having to rely on the shady advice of under skilled or under paid health care staff.
I'm wrong and so are you.
You're only making things worse. You misquoted (perhaps intentionally) to further your definition in hopes that no one would find the Dupont site. The actual line you're quoting, sans elipsis, states, "Transgenics (often referred to as biotechnology) is the application of scientific knowledge to transfer beneficial genetic traits from one species to another to enhance or protect an organism."
They are clearly talking about the field of transgenics, which is what you called 'biotechnology', they were merely stating that it is often called biotechnology, but with the implication that biotech refers to a much larger spectrum.
Even further, if you would have followed the link to the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO)'s glossary, you would have found that they describe biotechnology as, "Biotechnology -
The use of biological processes to solve problems or make useful products." under which the product in question would surely fall.
--- What