Portable Breast Scanning
Breast cancer is very common in women so it is important for checks to be done regularly. It can be difficult for some patients to get to a scanning clinic, meaning treatment can be delayed. Fortunately, due to a new breakthrough in portable scanning, this could soon be a thing of the past.
Research done at the University of Manchester has led to the invention of a portable breast scanner, which can show the presence of tumors on a computer screen within a second. The scanner, based on radio frequency technology, can detect both malignant and benign tumors and can be used in the patient’s own home. Using radio waves to detect tumours has been proven to be successful previously, but up until now the scanners were bulky, took a few minutes to prepare an image and had to be operated in a specialised medical facility.
The groundbreaking new technology, developed by Professor Zhipeng Wu, not only allows patients to be tested in a more relaxing environment but could massively decrease waiting times and prevent unnecessary mammograms being carried out. If each GP surgery carried one of these machines, the improvement in service would be immediately apparent. This safe and low cost machine is the size of an average lunchbox, rather than being an intimidating monster of medical machinery.
With breast cancer being the second biggest killer in women, accounting for 8.2% of cancer deaths, this new scanner could potentially save thousands of lives through early detection and treatment. The scanner has been submitted to IET Innovation Awards – here’s hoping it goes into production.
