The university noted that there is currently no treatment for tumors in the early stages of cancer, when they measure less than 5 millimeters (0.19 inches). The new antenna would eliminate the need to wait for the tumors to grow big enough to be treated, as well as eliminate the need for complicated, invasive surgery.

The micro-antenna would be inserted into the patient’s stomach via an endoscopic ultrasound tube and would allow radiation to be focused on the tiny tumors, if any such are discovered.

Development of the technique is expected to be completed within a year, pending funding.

The project is the work of Anna Kochnev and Shayke Stern, who were scheduled to present it on Monday at the Engineering and Computer Sciences Faculty at the Mount Scopus campus of the Hebrew University, along with presentations by other fourth-year students from the Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering faculties. Professors Yuri Feldman and Yaakov Nahmias, who mentored the project, noted that it was expected to lead to a breakthrough in the early identification and rapid treatment of tiny cancers in the digestive tract.

“The project was the result of cooperation between our talented students and the Shaare Tzedek Medical Center. The development came out of a real medical need and out of a desire to reach a breakthrough,” the professors said.

“The great opportunity here is one of preventing cancer from getting worse and requiring difficult chemotherapy treatment, which is also costly to the medical system.”

The professors said they were optimistic the project would be completed.