The process involves shining a tiny, low-powered laser on tissue to excite molecules within the tissue. When the molecules get rid of the extra energy by emitting the light particles, optical detectors measure the amount of light deflected.
Physicians then compare the measurements with the normal range for healthy tissue.
This process would replace the common PAP smear' s screening for cervical cancer and be conducted in the physicians office with t he patient receiving immediate results. Dr. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, profess or of electrical and computer engineering, is now developing a similar optical screening technique for ovarian cancer. This research is made possible, in part, by the National Institutes of Health. Taking the Sting Out of Vaccinations University of Alabama at Birmingham scientists may have found a simple way to take the sting out of vaccinations. Research on mice suggests that vaccines spread on the skin can be effective against diseases as well as reduce the risk of spreading disease through contaminated needles in developing countries.