Cheap, portable tissue scanner

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Talk about a major advance in diagnostics!  Properly implemented this cheap, compact scanner could probably be adapted to scan other soft tissues as well.  Fascinating.

Science Daily....

ScienceDaily (Oct. 27, 2010) — Women could have a fast test for breast cancer and instantly identify the presence of a tumor in the comfort of their own home thanks to groundbreaking new research from the University of Manchester.

Professor Zhipeng Wu has invented a portable scanner based on radio frequency technology, which is able to show in a second the presence of tumours -- malignant and benign -- in the breast on a computer.

Using radio frequency or microwave technology for breast cancer detection has been proven by researchers in the US, Canada and UK. However, up to now, it can take a few minutes for an image to be produced, and this had to be done in a hospital or specialist care centre.

Now Professor Wu, from the University's School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, says concerned patients can receive real-time video images in using the radio frequency scanner which would clearly and simply show the presence of a tumour.

Not only is this a quicker and less-intrusive means of testing, it also means women can be tested at GP surgeries, which could help dramatically reduce waiting times and in some cases avoid unnecessary X-ray mammography. The scanner could also be used at home for continuous monitoring of breast health.

The patented real-time radio frequency scanner uses computer tomography and works by using the same technology as a mobile phone, but with only a tiny fraction of its power.

This makes it both safe and low-cost and the electronics can be housed in a case the size of a lunch box for compactness and portability. Other existing systems are much larger.
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Wow! Does this mean no more uncomfortable "clamp" apparatus for women undergoing breast scans?

This reminds me of that low cost, high power microscope invented by an engineering student not too long ago. It was perfect because it could be made affordable to any clinic, even in remote areas, and still had performance equitable with some of the much more expensive, traditional scopes.

Sometimes, what "works" is fine. A regular optical, good quality microscope does a great job for what it's designed to do. But, then technology arises that enables one to build a better mousetrap at a cheaper price. Sometimes, that tech gets put to use to such effects that it causes a dramatic effect. But, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes, what's already in the marketplace remains the standard because it's already there.. Nonsensical, I know. But, that's how the animal behaves most of the time.

When what we have already is "good enough" and there's not much motivation to replace it, we remain ignorant of how much an impact technology can have. Then, something like this comes along that demonstrates our "good enough" technology is really no longer good enough.

 

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This device does not require breast compression. A cup with embedded antennae is placed over the breast and imaging commences.

This follows GE recently marketing a portable ultrasound machine based on smartphone tech - actually an advanced probe that plugs into a phone and an app that does the processing & display duties: $8,000, a tiny fraction of the typical scanner and it can be used anywhere.

Another researcher has invented a walk-in MRI machine that doesn't need cryogenic superconducting magnets - the patients basically walk between two small walls. This has big advantages for diagnosing conditions affected by weight bearing. This new way of generating MRI's has huge implications for lowering the cost & availability of scanners.

 

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...Another researcher has invented a walk-in MRI machine that doesn't need cryogenic superconducting magnets - the patients basically walk between two small walls. This has big advantages for diagnosing conditions affected by weight bearing. This new way of generating MRI's has huge implications for lowering the cost & availability of scanners.

I found this pretty interesting : Three-Dimensional Maps of Brain Wiring But, the downside is that the patient has to be in the MRI for an hour in order to collect the necessary data. (Using HARDI, a new imaging technique.)

I'm sure the two aren't compatible. Well, reasonably sure. But, how long would a typical MRI take in the new "walk-in" MRI?

 

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As usual, that depends on the processing power. It'll take some time to create new contrast agents for the new system though - they have to have magnetic properties of their own. It was developed using a helium-based contrast for the lungs.