Multispectral Light Sensor Could Allow Surgeons To 'See' Inside Tissue
By Joel Lindsey
Researchers at the University of Surrey have created a new type of light sensor that they say could allow for the creation of low-cost cameras capable of generating high-quality medical images.
The key in this development, according to the university’s press release, was the creation of a single light sensor that can detect the full spectrum of light — from ultra-violet rays to visible and near-infrared light waves.
“Until now specialist light sensors have been limited in the kinds of light they can detect, with multiple sensors required to measure different ranges of the light spectrum, significantly increasing cost,” Richard Curry, professor at the University of Surrey’s Advanced Technology Institute and lead researcher on the project, said in the press release.
According to Curry, “the new technology could allow surgeons to ‘see’ inside tissue to find tumors prior to surgery as well as equip consumer products, such as cameras and mobile phones, with night imaging options. This is useful for capturing quality pictures in the dark, and may eventually enable parents to monitor a child’s blood or tissue oxygenation level via a smartphone camera which could be linked to healthcare professionals.”
The new multispectral light sensors were built using fullerene nanorods, which have unique photoelectronic properties, most notably high electron mobility, photosensitivity, and conductivity, according to a news article published by Kurzweil News. This construction also carries with it helpful physical properties such as high degree of flexibility and malleability.
Using of fullerene nanorods in the construction of the new light sensors — which can be synthesized on large scales at room temperature — means that they can be manufactured easily and cheaply, using conventional laser printers instead of highly specialized fabrication equipment.
Researchers involved with the project have recently published a paper in the journal Scientific Reports detailing the new sensors, their capabilities, and possible applications.
“These devices represent significant advances and make C60 nanorods a promising candidate for advanced photodetector technologies,” researchers wrote in the paper.
According to Curry’s speculations, the new light sensors could be the latest in a growing field of sensors, devices, and software geared toward transforming smartphones into mobile medical devices, a field that is growing at a rapid pace. Earlier this month, for example, Med Device Online published an article about scientists at the University of British Columbia who have created a sensor that could turn smartphones into oximeters to measure blood oxygen levels.
Image Credit: A typical C60 nanorod photoconductor, Rinku Saran et al. Scientific Reports