23/08/2025
Nigerian-American scientist Dr. Samuel Achilefu developed a remarkable tool called CancerVision Goggles, which helps surgeons detect cancer cells more accurately during surgery. The goggles work by using a special dye injected into the patient prior to the procedure. This dye binds specifically to cancerous tissue and emits infrared light. According to the Washington University School of Medicine, where Dr. Achilefu leads innovation in radiology and biomedical engineering, the goggles pick up this invisible glow and present it as a visual overlay. That means doctors can actually see cancer cells glowing in real time as they operate.
Before these goggles existed, it was much harder to distinguish between healthy and malignant tissues using the naked eye. According to CNN Health, traditional imaging techniques often miss small clusters of cancer cells, which can lead to recurrence and repeat surgeries. With CancerVision Goggles, surgeons gain a powerful advantage: they can remove tumors more thoroughly while sparing healthy tissue, improving both patient outcomes and recovery times.