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Philips previews future med tech at N.Y. research outpost

June 28, 2012

Listening for blue dye

The second cancer-tracking technology involves an investigational technique that helps doctors find lymph nodes for biopsies in women with breast cancer.

"Clinicians told us we need something that is less invasive," said Ladislav Jankovic, a senior researcher at the research center.

In a normal lymph node biopsy, doctors have to cut open patients to identify and remove lymph nodes that might indicate where breast cancer has spread. A blue dye, which is injected into a patient's system beforehand, will mark the lymph nodes most likely to contain cancer cells, known as sentinel lymph nodes.

Jankovic said the purpose of the technology is to reduce the need for surgical biopsy and the side effects that can result. The experimental system is based on photoacoustic imaging, which can locate the sentinel lymph nodes and help guide a needle to the nodes to remove cells for further testing.

Like an ultrasound scan, a probe directs sound waves to a specific area, in this case the breast. But the photoacoustic system also integrates a laser into the ultrasound scan. Laser light is directed onto the underarm region and is absorbed by the dye that is injected into the patient's breast, and which diffuses into the lymph nodes. The nodes then expand and generate an ultrasound signal that's detected with the scanner, so doctors can guide the needle without opening up the flesh.

This imaging technique is in clinical testing at Washington University in St. Louis.

Clinical decision support

In addition to working on cancer treatment delivery helpers, Philips has other teams trying to develop tools to help doctors make better decisions, known as clinical decision support.
Nicolas Chbat shows ALI
clinical decision support software.



One of these is the hypotension prediction algorithm mentioned earlier, known as the hemodynamic instability indicator. This creates a score, between 0 and 100, based on vital signs, patient age and even updated lab reports, that indicates a patient's risk for critically low blood pressure. Currently, the technology's in the testing stage. But Philips researchers said they'll soon bring it into the hospital to see how physicians use the information and, eventually, whether it helps cut mortality rates. "We are going out to clinical study at five sites, not yet determined, in October," said Abigail Flower, project leader for the technology.

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