Good call ... mobile phone gadget Handyscope can detect skin cancer
The Handyscope, which launches today, plugs into the Apple phone and converts it into a dermatoscope, which doctors use to find skin cancer.
It uses a polarising light to detect whether a mole is abnormal, before taking a picture of it and sending it off to a doctor to check.
Target ... device spots skin cancer
The image can then even be posted off to a second opinion service where world-renowned specialists can weigh in with their view.
Now experts have come out to say it could be very helpful in battling the disease.
Dr David Pye, a researcher based at Salford University, said:
"This is a powerful piece of kit which could be very useful for people in the profession assessing whether a mole is cancerous.
"Sending images around the world for expert diagnosis could be incredibly helpful and this is the first time I've ever seen anything like this before."During a mole examination you're looking for things like irregular edges and unusual colouration, which the device would be very good at picking up."However, I don't think it will be Joe Bloggs performing examinations at home - this is likely to be for doctors who could do with a second opinion."
Handyscope is made by German-based firm FotoFinder and any data is encrypted and can be password protected to keep it confidential.
At £995 for the gadget and £6.99 for the app needed to use it, the technology is not cheap.
But the firm behind it said the device had the potential to save lives.
Marketing manager Valeska Heinrich said:
"The Handyscope combines the latest communication technology with a sophisticated tool for skin cancer screening, opening up a new era for cancer diagnosis.
"This is a very exciting innovation and the first of its kind in the world. The Handyscope makes skin examinations much more convenient by allowing them to be carried out anywhere."The brilliant dermatoscopic photos on-screen show important details at a glance, so a decision can quickly be made on whether a mole is suspicious."
1 comment:
This is well and good, but I don't think it replaces having a dermatologist actually look at it in-person.
http://www.experts123.com/questions/filter/iphone?type=question
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