The handheld  mini gamma ray camera is a ‘hybrid’ technology that combines optical and gamma imaging. It will also improve the efficiency and accuracy of removing tumours during surgery.

The small mobile camera will advance nuclear imaging by allowing imaging procedures at a patient’s bedside, in operating theatres and intensive care units. This will allow surgeons to localise and map tumours and sentinel nodes to patient anatomy with greater accuracy during surgery. Gamma cameras are traditionally large instruments that are normally housed in specialised rooms within nuclear medicine departments. Due to their large size, patients need to attend the department to undergo imaging procedures. The new handheld hybrid technology will mitigate these issues and can be used for small organ imaging, diagnosis, surgical investigation and visualisation of drug delivery.