Research grant received for breast cancer diagnostic device

Published date : 28 August 2012
Article date : 24 August 2012

In the U.S., a breast cancer diagnostic startup that uses fingertip sensors to detect tumors has received a research grant of more than $878,000 to advance its handheld diagnostic device. 

UE Lifesciences’ Intelligent Breast Exam can distinguish between normal breast tissue and a tumor. The device has been particularly effective at detecting tumors in women under 40, based on the clinical trials the college of medicine has conducted. The Commonwealth Universal Research Enhancement grant will be used to advance the screening test to the final stages of development.

 

In a pilot clinical study conducted at Drexel’s College of Medicine, the device detected 9 out of 11 clinician non-palpable breast tumors and identified one invasive breast cancer that was missed on the mammogram. The Philadelphia-based diagnostics start-up licensed the technology from Drexel University in 2010. Dr. Wan Shih, who has had breast cancer herself, developed the early versions of the device as part of a research project she led at Drexel University’s School of Biomedical Engineering, Science and Health Systems. 
 
It specialises in developing automated technologies that don’t require highly skilled medical practitioners to carry out accurate tests and data analysis. Earlier this year another breast cancer detector from UE Lifescience won approval from the FDA. The radiation free, “No Touch Breast Scan” uses computerised, functional infrared imaging system that analyses temperature pixels from infrared frames to identify physiologic signs of developing breast cancer. 
 
In an interview with Flying Kite Media earlier this year, UE Lifesciences CEO Mihir Shah said infared technology has been able to pinpoint tumors in cases where mammography has failed, particularly for women with dense breasts. There are 13,000 mammography centers in the U.S. but only 400 U.S. clinics offer breast thermography. Improvements and affordability of digital cameras are making thermography a more realistic alternative to traditional mammograms. 
 
Source: Stephanie Baum, medcitynews.com, 20 August 2012 (U.S.)
 
Read the full artticle here

 

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