Handheld microscope ‘could aid identification of cancerous tissue’

Differentiating between healthy and cancerous cells could become easier thanks to a new handheld microscope the size of a pen.

Developed by mechanical engineers and collaborators at the University of Washington, the device combines numerous technologies to deliver high-quality images at faster speeds than is possible with current technology.

It utilises dual-axis confocal microscopy techniques to illuminate and see through opaque tissue more clearly, capturing details up to half a millimetre beneath the tissue surface, which is where some types of cancerous cells originate.

The microscope also incorporates line scanning techniques to speed up the image collection process, meaning it is able to produce clear images without needing to be held perfectly still – essential for a handheld device.

This device could make it easier for doctors and dentists to identify cancerous tissue, or help surgeons to extract tumours with greater accuracy.

Senior author Jonathan Liu, assistant professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Washington, said: "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."