HAND-HELD, DIGITAL VIDEO MICROSCOPE FROM U.S. AIR FORCE ADDED TO COLLECTION

The National Museum of Health and Medicine has acquired a hand-held, digital video microscope called the MoleMax II from the U.S. Air Force Medical Service at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio. It was used in a dermatology clinic to help physicians check moles and freckles for melanoma.

"What this machine does is take an image of the entire body and then provide a location marker for individual moles that are imaged with the microscope. When the patient comes for another examination, usually a year later, there is a complete record of the moles on a person, their shape and location that the dermatologist can precisely measure to see whether a mole has actually changed or not, and conclude whether surgery is indicated," said Alan Hawk, the museum's historical collections manager. The unit, which includes two hard drives, a monitor, printer, mouse, keyboard, micro camera, macro camera, rolling cart, modem, and power strip, cost $42,500 when purchased new in November 1998. It was taken out of service in January 2002.

"This represents one of the first clinical applications of the hand-held video microscope," Hawk added. Manufactured by Derma Instruments of Vienna, Austria, the unit's technology was based on research conducted by the University of Vienna Medical School.

"MoleMax II uses patented polarized light technology to effectively view beneath the skin's surface," according to Beth Starr, a Derma Instruments spokeswoman, adding that it "represents the most valuable method in the early detection of malignant melanomas, significantly aiding physicians in differentiating between benign and malignant tumors of the skin."

Although in more widespread use in Europe than in the United States, the unit is used by about 35 major cancer centers and hospitals in this country, including the University of Texas Medical School in Houston and the University of Miami's Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The unit has been added to the museum's historical collection, which documents changes in medical technology since the early 17th century. The collection includes objects ranging in size from a suture needle to a two-ton MRI magnet, such as X-ray equipment, microscopes, surgical instruments, numismatics, and anatomical models. The collection is made available for the education of medical professionals, Department of Defense personnel, historians, and the public through exhibits in the museum, loans to other institutions, and individualized study.