Micro-dissection is a medical procedure that was originally used to isolate, analyze and classify tumorous tissues in the molecular pathology field. As a first step, this was a necessary procedure to allow the pathologists to establish a clear diagnosis which would then be the basis for the patient’s prognosis and eventual therapeutic treatment plan.
In order to perform this micro-dissection, high powered microscopes equipped with high resolution digital cameras were introduced into the procedure. This technology has now crossed the spectrum from patient procedures into bio-analytical applications that require the researchers to isolate certain cells, tissues, DNA and proteins.
“The flexibility and utility of laser capture microdissection as a sample preparation tool has lent itself to a diverse set of research areas and applications, including cancer biology, neurobiology, and developmental biology,” says Steven Blakely, product manager for Arcturus LCM instruments and reagents at MDS Analytical Technologies, “and it is exciting to see the technology expanding into new areas, such as live cell research, forensics sciences, plant biology and drug discovery.”
The integration of the high resolution cameras allow the researchers to capture images, transmit them to a computer outside of the surgical room and continue the analysis following the procedure. It also allows for not only the observation, but the documentation and archiving of the information gleaned from the procedure.
UKA Optics is a manufacturer and designer of high resolution lenses whose applications include: endoscope couplers, fiber scope couplers, diagnostic camera hand pieces, and medical X-ray scanning. Our engineers can help manufacturers and researchers develop vision systems for medical research and procedures.