Italians have come up with the world's first battery-charged gamma-ray camera able to pinpoint tumours much faster than traditional instruments.
The camera, built by a spin-off company of the National Research Council, is able to take high-precision digital pictures of tumours at a very early stage of development. "It's completely portable and highly efficient, running on rechargeable batteries that last for five hours," said researcher Alessandro Soluri.
The camera measures 5cmX5cm and weighs about five kg.
Soluri said it had already proven very helpful in providing high-resolution images of a range of tumours
including breast cancer, thyroid cancer, prostate cancer and lymphomas.
"It's extremely handy and can also be used in the operating theatre," he said.
The camera serves as a guide for mini-operations, replacing traditional equipment that is more expensive and takes up a lot of room, he noted.
It eliminates the need for major surgery in cancers that have just started to develop.
Udinese based company Li-Tech has applied for a worldwide patent.
