Pen to Detect Cancer During Surgery

When surgeons operate a person with a cancer, they are often faced with the problem as to how much tissue should be removed, since on naked eye, the demarcation is usually not clear. A handheld device based on mass spectrometry that can differentiate between cancerous and non-cancerous tissues within seconds and can be used by surgeons during surgery has been showcased at the South by Southwest''s (SXSW) interactive festival.