RESEARCHERS at the University of Washington have developed a microscope designed to visualise cells in three dimensions, an advance they believe could have great impact on the early detection of cancer.
The Cell-CT is also expected to narrow the gap between cutting-edge imaging techniques used in clinical practices and those used in research.
The product was created in collaboration with patent holders VisionGate.
The microscope rotates a cell under the lens, taking hundreds of pictures per rotation and digitally combines then to form a single 3-D image.
Researchers say the visualisations have the potential to effect early detection in cancer. Currently clinicians assess cancerous cells’ shape and size through a 2-D picture process.
The University claims the microscope is the first able to use both traditional and fluorescent stains to detect cancers. Developers hope this will bring imaging techniques from the lab to the doctor’s office.
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