This chip can monitor tumor aggressiveness

A chip planting operations on the human body could potentially be used to monitor tumor growth in places difficult to reach by the physician.

The health engineer at the Technische Universitaet Muenchen (TUM) has developed an electronic sensor chip that can determine the oxygen content in liquid tissue that is in the patient's body. Because the decrease in oxygen content in the tissue surrounding the tumor may indicate tumor growth in a fast and aggressive.


A research team led by Prof. Bernhard Wolf of TUM Heinz Nixdorf Chair of Medical Electronics have now developed a sensor chip that can be implanted near the tumor. The sensor chip can measure the concentration of oxygen dissolved in tissues.



The results of this monitoring sensor chips wirelessly transmit information kapada doctor. Then this information giunakan physicians to monitor tumor progression and regulate the operation or the appropriate therapy for patients, such as chemotherapy.

This sensor chip has passed the laboratory tests. The main challenge for researchers is to develop a sensor that can function independently for long periods of time. In fact, the sensor must continue to function and provide accurate results as long as there is in the human body.

"We designed the chip sensor to adjust for concentrated with dissolved oxygen measurements are set at intervals," explains Sven Becker, an engineer and project manager of this sensor chip.

Becker also revealed that the electronic sensor chip has to be made smaller before being implanted in the patient with cancer. In addition, the scientists still want to design this chip by completing additional sensors to measure the acidity and temperature of the tumor.

Scientists are also trying to make a chip that functions as a drug pump such as the treatment of chemotherapy used to kill tumors. Becker hopes to find new technologies to create a more focused cancer therapy and may reduce the aggressiveness of the tumor for patients