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Electro-Scalpel "Sniffs Out" Tumors

Posted by samzenpus on from the smells-like-health dept.

TechReviewAl writes "Researchers in Germany have developed a surgical tool that uses chemical analysis to identify cancerous tissue as a surgeon cuts. The instrument uses a modified mass spectrometer — a device that uses ionized molecules to perform very accurate chemical analysis — to pinpoint tumors so that surgeons can make sure they remove everything. Mass spectrometry has been used to study biopsied biological samples before, but never used in-situ. The key was to harness ionized gas already produced by the electro-scalpel."

2 of 43 comments (clear)

  1. That is freakin' brilliant. by jcr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    They actually found a use for the smoke that an electric cautery produces. Amazing.

    -jcr

    --
    The only title of honor that a tyrant can grant is "Enemy of the State."
    1. Re:That is freakin' brilliant. by blueturffan · · Score: 3, Insightful

      My sister finished chemo and radiation about a year ago. In her case, she needed two surgeries to remove the tumors, and the chemo/radiation was to make sure they got anything that was too small to be seen with PET scans.

      I don't think surgery or chemo is necessarily an either/or option.