Washington: Google developed a microscope prototype based on augmented reality and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to help doctors identify cancer and other diseases.
According to Google, the microscope can analyze visual indicators, such as thermal maps and limits of organisms, in order to identify the presence of cancer cells or any other diseases in samples taken from human tissue, all in real time.
The microscope aims to create a system that can be retrofitted into existing light microscopes found in hospitals and clinics. The microscopes equipped with this system, known as Augmented Reality Microscope (ARM), can provide a variety of visual feedback, such as text, arrows, contours, heat maps and animations, each tailored to unique assessment goals.
The ARM was first teased publicly in 2018 and has not been used to diagnose patients yet. Currently, 13 prototypes of the ARM exist, with significant testing still needed before it can assist everyday clinicians. Google is aiming to employ AI into the health sector, as these advanced microscopes is expected to cost between $90,000 and $100,000, likely well beyond the means of local health providers in the US.
