Importantly the light-sheet approach does not consume tissue, which means that it can be used for other purposes, such as “sequencing tumor cells and finding genetic abnormalities that we can target with specific drugs and other precision medicine techniques,” noted co-author Larry True, professor of pathology at UW Medicine.

The light-sheet microscope is also faster and maintains optimal focus better than other non-destructive optical-sectioning microscopes out today, say the researchers.


The UW team's approach created a number of advantages. One improvement is that by using an open-top arrangement – with all the optics under a big plate of glass – means that they can image larger tissue samples than other microscopes, according to the report.

For the next iteration of their device, they are working to speed up the “optical-clearing process” by which light penetrates biopsy samples.

They are also working on improving their 3-D immunostaining processes and, in concert with AI experts, creating algorithms to analyze the huge 3-D data stream that pours out of their system, in an effort to provide automated assistance to help physicians more quickly zero in on suspect parts of tissue samples.

Back to HCB News

Women's Health Homepage