Applied Physics Laboratory: Research
Research
Eddy Current Detection
Eddy current probe
The current treatment for localized tumors is surgical resection of cancerous tissue. The biggest challenge in this treatment method is the prevention of recurrence which is mainly caused by unsuccessfully removing all of the cancerous tissue. A surgeon has only visual and palpable cues to determine where the edge of a tumor is located. Our group is focused on developing an instrument to help in the detection of these margins. Our device uses eddy currents to detect surface and subsurface flaws in biological tissue, much like current eddy current detectors used in tubing inspection. With real-time intraoperative imaging of the tumor site, a surgeon will have additional information to make more informed decisions which will hopefully lead to a greater survival curve for patients with operable cancers.