The blood oxygen-monitoring chip, which is about 2 cm long and encased in plastic, is still in the early stages of testing.
What's the News: Scientists in Germany are developing a chip that keeps track of blood oxygen levels for implanting near tumors
, reports Kate Baggot at Technology Review
. When blood oxygen levels drop, signalling a burst of tumor growth, doctors would be alerted immediately, jump-starting the treatment process. How the Heck:
The chip, called the IntelliTuM, contains a sensor, electronics for measurements, and a transmitter that will send status updates to a receiver carried by the patient and thence to the doctor, reports Technology Review.
Right now, the chip senses the levels of dissolved oxygen in its immediate area, which, if it's near a tumor, can change as the tumor transitions into a more aggressive mode. But the team has also been able to change the sensor ...
