Last year I wrote about how new technologies combined with software data enhancement will revolutionize medical imaging. A new development in this area comes out of Imperial College London and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Scientists there have found a way to make electromagnetic terahertz waves (T-rays) much stronger while requiring less power. See the press release here.
Currently, T-rays are used in instruments such as airport security body scanners. The advantage of terahertz waves, which are in the far infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum, is that every molecule has its own distinct terahertz signature. With this advancement in the technology, future scanning devices could use T-rays to look at physiological processes in real-time, down to the molecular level.
Advancements in imaging technologies seem to be occuring at a faster pace. It’s an area that will have significant impact on the development of the medical devices of the future.