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News & Analysis 2008 p6:

• Flexible optical links portend "artificial skin" for vital-signs monitoring, other biomed uses
  OCTOBER 13, 2008 -- The independent research center IMEC (Leuven, Belgium) says its laboratory at the Ghent University, INTEC, has made the first functional optical links embedded in a flexible substrate. The technique enables production of stretchable foils that sense pressure changes -- which could be used as a synthetic skin. Applications include long-term monitoring of respiration and cardiac activity, and detection of pressure points under bed-ridden patients.
• Biospectroscopy luminaries to conduct webcast
  OCTOBER 10, 2008 -- BioOptics World magazine will offer an interactive webcast titled "Key secrets of biospectroscopy," on Wednesday, October 29. Two respected leaders, Prof. Robert Alfano and Dr. Stavros Demos, will present and then answer participants' questions. Dr. Alfano is director of the Institute for Ultrafast Spectroscopy and Lasers; Dr. Demos is with Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
• Imaging Diagnostic Systems, CustomVis receive first orders for breast cancer imaging, eye surgery tools
  OCTOBER 10, 2008 -- Two developers of laser-based biomedical equipment have announced their first product sales: Imaging Diagnostic Systems, developer of laser optical breast cancer imaging systems, has sold its CT Laser Mammography System (CTLM) system to the Hadassah University Medical Center in Israel. And CustomVis (Perth, Australia), which specializes in solid-state laser systems for eye surgery, says it has made the first sale of its flagship product, the Pulzar Z1, in Peru.
• Reliant wins FDA 510(K) clearance of new handpieces for skin resurfacing, surgery
  OCTOBER 10, 2008 -- Reliant Technologies (Mountain View, CA), the pioneer of fractional resurfacing and market leader of aesthetic laser skin treatments, says it has received FDA 510(k) clearance for three new Fraxel re:pair laser handpieces. The handpieces expand the capabilities of the Fraxel re:pair laser system, providing physicians with "a complete skin resurfacing and surgical treatment option."
• Study shows super-sensitive probe can detect colon cancer in a single cell
  OCTOBER 9, 2008 -- During this week's annual meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology, Mayo Clinic researchers reported that a virtual biopsy probe, sensitive enough to determine whether a single cell in the colon shows signs of cancer, was 90% accurate in identifying harmless polyps in patients. They say that with further development, the system, known as probe-based confocal laser endomicroscopy (pCLE), will be nearly 100% accurate in detecting colon cancer.
• Single-cell analysis reveals patterns associated with cancer initiation, growth
  OCTOBER 8, 2008 -- New research indicates the benefits of single-cell profiling for understanding some complex cancers. "By measuring how signaling proteins respond to certain stimuli at diagnosis and which are modified by resistant cancers, we are essentially monitoring key highways that cancers use to drive their own growth," explains Dr. Garry Nolan, one of the research leaders. Advances in flow cytometry enabled the discovery, which could lead to very early cancer diagnosis.
• FDA clears MedX's Oralase laser pain-treatment device
  OCTOBER 7, 2008 -- The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared MedX Health's (Mississauga, Canada) Oralase Portable Laser for marketing. Oralase, a low level laser therapy (LLLT) device, is designed to alleviate pain and accelerate tissue repair following dentistry procedures. The device also promises to relieve pain and accelerate healing in cosmetic surgery and skin treatments.
• Joint venture service analyzes medical images produced by OCT, other modalities
  OCTOBER 7, 2008 -- An international group of companies and individuals has formed a joint venture it is calling imaeon. The new company, operating from India and Belgium, will provide analysis of medical images -- derived from optical coherence tomography (OCT) and other technologies -- for clinical research projects in the pharmaceutical, biomedical and medical device industries.
• 2DIR imaging technique basis for future single-cell protein analysis tool
  OCTOBER 6, 2008 -- Researchers at Imperial College London say they have discovered the first new method in more than 20 years for identifying proteins. Their technique, coherent two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy (2DIR), maps energy flow inside a protein. The scientists hope to develop a tool based on the technology to determine proteins and their concentrations within a human cell. Proteins are involved in every process in human cells, including cancer growth.
• Optics tool promises colon cancer risk assessment; could aid cancer prevention
  OCTOBER 3, 2008 -- Researchers at NorthShore University HealthSystem and Northwestern University have found that fiber optic technology can effectively measure blood levels in the colonic lining in humans. This has potential for analyzing colon cancer risk. The study used fiber optics to map microvascular blood content in patients during colonoscopy. The results provide the first evidence that the condition is detectable in humans, and that it indicates tumor development.

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