New Laser Device Helps Quickly And Safely Detect Prostate Cancers

Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute for Ceramic Technologies and Systems IKTS in Dresden have devised a new device that could help doctors distinguish between benign and malignant prostate cancers.

In fact, this visual analysis could help doctors reliably determine if they are dealing with carcinoma within just about a minute-and-a-half.

"The physician places the removed tissue sample on a base plate, slides it into the machine, presses a button - and within one and a half minutes, receives a reliable indication of whether the tissue in the sample is benign or malignant," said Dr. Jörg Opitz, scientist at IKTS, in a news release.

The device works by emitting a laser pulse onto the tissue sample, which activates molecules known as fluorophnes. As resultant fluorescence radiation decreases at a different rate for benign versus malignant tissues, if the rates exceed a particular threshold value, cancer cells are present. 

It also yields much faster results that help doctors talk with patients sooner about the next steps to take. Furthermore, an added advantage of the new device is its reliability.

"The analyses are based on the auto-fluorescence that human tissue emits," Opitz concluded.

More information regarding the prototype will be presented at the COMPAMED trade fair in Düsseldorf.