Researchers from Temple University have developed a tactile imaging sensor that could help doctors identify cancerous tumors earlier.
The sensor is designed to help doctors assess lesions, lumps, or tumors when doing physical exams by detecting the size and shape of the lesion or tumor, as well as its elasticity and mobility, according to the university.
Studies have shown that cancerous lesions and tumors tend to be larger and more irregular in shape or have harder elasticity, according to Chang-Hee Won, PhD, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Temple.
The portable sensor can be attached to any desktop or laptop computer that has a FireWire cable port. The 4.5-inch device has four LED lights and a camera. It also has a flexible transparent elastomer cube, into which light is injected.
When an irregularity is felt during a patient's physical exam, the doctor places the sensor against the skin where the irregularity was located. The sensor uses the total internal reflection principle, which keeps the injected light within the elastomer cube unless an intrusion from a lesion or tumor changes the contour of the elastomer's surface, in which case the light will reflect out of the cube. The sensor's camera then captures the lesion or tumor images caused by the reflected light and is processed to calculate the lesion's mechanical properties.
The device is not designed to replace existing diagnostic tests but to assist the primary doctor in initially obtaining key information, Won noted.
The device is noninvasive and can detect lumps or tumors up to 3 cm under the skin. The prototype costs approximately $500.
