The standard for detecting cancer cells in biopsies is
immunohisochemistry — and detecting key antigens can be a time
intensive process, requiring days to complete. Researchers at
Harvard and MIT have developed a mobile mini NMR (nuclear
magnetic resonance) device operated by a smart phone that can be
used at a patient’s bedside to detect cancer cells in under one
hour. Researchers state the parts to make the device cost $200
to manufacture, making it affordable for clinics or in poorer
countries. More promising, however, are the results of a study
just published in the Journal Science Translational Magazine
that used the device to diagnose cancer. The study found the
mobile device performed better than traditional methods of
detecting cancer cells in biopsies.