Biophotonics Discovery: The Podcast

Pulse oximeters—those small, clip-on devices used to measure blood oxygen—are a mainstay in modern medicine. But new research from Putcha and colleagues offers a clearer understanding of a critical flaw: in patients with darker skin tones, pulse oximeters consistently overestimate blood oxygen levels, especially when oxygen levels are dangerously low. Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1117/1.BI...

Scientists have taken a major step toward rapid, non-destructive tissue typing by combining label-free optical microscopy with deep learning. In a new study, Guan and colleagues at University of Arizona have developed a method called “optical phenotyping” that can classify different pancreatic tissue types based on how they look under specialized imaging—without any stains—and link them to underly...

A new optical device may revolutionize the early treatment of oral cancer, especially in regions with limited medical infrastructure. In a recent study, Khan and colleagues have developed and rigorously tested a low-cost, battery-powered intraoral tool that integrates both optical diagnostics and photodynamic therapy. Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1117/1.BIOS.2.4.042305

A next-generation imaging approach is changing how we detect colorectal cancer—and it doesn’t even require dyes or contrast agents. In a groundbreaking study, Lagarto and colleagues show how a label-free optical technique, combined with artificial intelligence, can accurately distinguish between benign and malignant tissues, potentially transforming colorectal cancer diagnostics during endoscopy....

Phototherapy is the gold-standard treatment for newborn jaundice, but a new study suggests it might not be as universally effective as once thought. Using sophisticated computer modeling, researchers have found that skin color could significantly impact how much therapeutic light actually reaches and breaks down bilirubin in newborns. Read the article: https://doi.org/10.1117/1.BIOS.2.3.032508

From the SPIE journal Biophotonics Discovery comes a new podcast that discusses the many ways light is used to solve big problems in biology and medicine. Get to know your hosts, Editor-in-Chief Darren Roblyer (Boston University) and Gwen Weerts (SPIE).