Purdue Engineers Create Needle Sized Dosimeter to Assist with Radiation Therapy

Purdue University engineers are creating a tiny wireless dosimeter small enough to fit into a large diameter needle and be injected by syringe into a tumor site. The device will tell physicians the exact radiation dose administered as well as the precise tumor location. It is anticipated that the information provided will be invaluable in helping to effectively kill more tumors.

Babak Ziaie, an associate professor in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is leading a team that has tested a prototype "wireless implantable passive micro-dosimeter". It is expected that the device will be in clinical trials by 2010. Research findings may be found in a paper written by doctoral student Chulwoo Son and Ziaie and appearing in the June issue of IEEE Transactions On Biomedical Engineering.

adapted from material published by thePurdue University News Service