There are several problems in treating cancer. Among the most vexing is to figure out exactly the type of tumor so that you can come up with a very specific therapy. If you cannot get access to the cancer through some simple measures then the physicians only choice is to look at it through imaging or some other probes. However, most physicians try to get at the tissue through a biopsy, which harvests the tissue that can be characterized later in the lab.
Biopsies are usually done with a needle that require a physician to figure out where the tumor is and then go in and harvest using a fine needle. However, the problems with that are numerous – how do you know where is the tumor? How do you know where is the needle? It is incredible that physician can find the tumor under such difficult circumstances. One technique that physician’s use is to use an ultrasound machine to visualize the tumor if it is possible and then use a needle to perform the biopsy. However, observing needles is difficult so one company called ActiveNeedle has come up with a unique solution to see that needle during a biopsy.
ActiveNeedle uses a high frequency vibration that is detected on ultrasound. This enables the physician to see the tip of the needle and thus the physician can figure out where the needle is embedded within the tissue. They have a patent for this invention and are commercializing this simple but ingenious idea to help perform accurate biopsies.
It is accepted that this high frequency vibration is mostly used to visualize but would be interesting to see if it causes any damage to the tissue even in a minor way. Probably not, but to make it a commercial medical device this is probably one of the tests that will need to be conducted.
This technology has potential to be utilized for other areas where needles are used and has a potential to be a very useful device in the surgeon’s repertoire.