Handheld breast cancer detector in development
Published: June 14, 2005
Scientists in the U.S. are testing a handheld device they believe holds great promise in helping women, in the comfort of their own home, detect breast cancer early.
The experimental device, dubbed I-Find, uses infrared light to peer into breast tissue, looking for signs of a tumour.
By pinpointing differences in blood flow and oxygen in the breast, the device can warn women of the presence of early warning signals.
When the palm-sized device detects the possibility of a tumour, it emits a unique tone.
So far, researchers say the I-Find has demonstrated a success rate greater than 90 per cent. It’s reliability is far greater than that of self-exams, but could prove invaluable when combined with personal checkups and regular mammograms.
The device, which is expected to sell for $100 US when it hits store shelves in a couple of years, is expected to be most useful among women on the lookout for a recurrence of breast cancer, as well as those who have a history of the disease in their family.
For now, however, the device must be submitted to a series of trials before it can even be submitted for governmental approval.
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