July 9th, 2008
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This news item is more than a year old. Links, graphics, content, medical information, and statistics may be out of date. We invite you to search, visit our homepage, or contact us to find more current information on the topic you're looking for.New laser nose will sniff out first signs of cancer
LUCINDA CAMERON
April 05, 2004
SCIENTISTS in Scotland have developed a "breathalyser" that can detect early signs of lung cancer.
The hyper-sensitive machine, dubbed a "laser nose", detects tiny traces of ethane in the breath, using technology originally designed for oil prospecting.
Patients use the device by breathing down a tube into a bag, where a tiny laser beam detects ethane, produced when lung cancer breaks down cells in the body.