Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light in Erlangen, Germany, unveiled the RT-FDC device, a rapid tissue analysis tool designed to accelerate tumor evaluation. The study detailing this breakthrough appears in the journal Doga Biomedical Engineering, signaling a potential shift in how malignant changes are identified and understood by clinicians across North America and beyond. (attribution: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light)
Understanding alterations in the physical properties of cells is central to diagnosing and guiding treatment for several diseases, including cancer. Traditionally, this requires expert interpretation by a pathologist, and even highly trained clinicians can miss subtle signs of malignancy under time pressure. The new approach aims to reduce diagnostic latency by offering a fast, practical method for tissue testing that does not sacrifice accuracy. In essence, it seeks to provide timely insights that inform patient care from the earliest stages of suspicion. (attribution: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light)
The researchers have begun by validating the method on mouse tissue, a step that helps demonstrate feasibility before broader application in human samples. In operation, the device begins with mechanical processing of the tissue sample, breaking it down into individual cells and preparing them for analysis. RT-FDC can examine as many as 1,000 cells per second, a rate that dwarfs the performance of traditional techniques by tens of thousands of cells per second. This pace allows researchers to build a detailed cellular profile rapidly, enabling quicker interpretation and decision making. The system also integrates artificial intelligence that assesses the likelihood of tumor presence based on the data generated during analysis. (attribution: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light)
In clinical practice, biopsies are frequently employed to obtain rapid diagnostic information during procedures. Where immediate consultation with a pathologist is not feasible, the RT-FDC approach could offer an insightful, data driven alternative that supports real time decision making. The team notes that this technology is designed to complement, and in some cases streamline, surgical workflows by providing actionable information without prolonging procedure times. Ongoing work focuses on validating the method across diverse tissue types and translating the findings into robust, user friendly workflows suitable for hospital settings. The researchers emphasize that the aim is to enhance diagnostic confidence and speed, improving patient outcomes while maintaining rigorous standards for accuracy and reproducibility. (attribution: Max Planck Institute for the Science of Light)