An optical penetrating adapter for mounting to a surgical portal to permit visualization through the surgical portal includes an adapter member defining a longitudinal axis and having a transparent window adapted to penetrate tissue and to permit visualization therethrough and means for coupling the adapter member to the surgical portal. After peak identification, the full transient is then transformed, and the peaks identified in the partial transient transform are used to locate true peaks in the transformed full transient. The improvement comprises the use of a ceramic tip or similar component in high wear areas of the tooling, particularly center pins. The elevated expression of RDP occurs early and remains elevated during the neoplastic process.