Developing Handheld Skin Cancer Diagnostic Technology
Skin cancer diagnosis and treatment can be a multi-step process of repeated biopsies and surgeries. There is one imaging technology, called a Confocal Microscope, that can take the repetition out of the process and enable a doctor to identify the cancer cells more accurately before and during surgery. The University of Arizona Cancer Center is working to create the next generation of that technology. The project is built on the collaboration of Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD, co-director of the Skin Cancer Institute at the University of Arizona Cancer Center and interim dermatology division chief at the College of Medicine – Tucson and Dongkyun Kang, PhD, co-leader of the Cancer Imaging Program, and assistant professor of optical sciences and biomedical engineering. They aim to make a portable, less expensive version of the microscope to improve cancer care.
Clara Curiel Lewandrowski, MD, uses a portable skin cancer diagnostic microscope on Dongkyun Kang, PhD, to test the output image on a laptop screen. The two are developing the device to enable faster skin cancer diagnosis in doctor’s offices.
Dongkyun Kang, PhD, works to align the laser optics to increase the light power of a portable confocal microscope he is developing with Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD.
Dongkyun Kang, PhD, has created a portable prototype of a microscope used to help diagnose skin cancer. Here, he works to improve the device assembly.
Clara Curiel Lewandrowski, MD, in front of a screen showing the images produced by a confocal microscope. She holds the smaller, portable version she is developing for wider use by doctors.
The portable confocal microscope is a project of the University of Arizona Cancer Center, and will be used to help diagnose and treat skin cancer.
Dongkyun Kang, PhD, works to align the laser optics to increase the light power of a portable confocal microscope he is developing with Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD.
Dongkyun Kang, PhD, uses a microscope and laptop to assist his work on debugging the assembly of a new, handheld microscope to help diagnose skin cancer.
Dongkyun Kang, PhD, is developing a confocal microscope to help diagnose skin cancer. The project is a collaboration with Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD.
Clara Curiel Lewandrowski, MD, talks with Dongkyun Kang, PhD, as she holds the portable confocal microscope the two are developing to provide advanced skin cancer diagnostic options in the clinic. The portable device will help doctors diagnose and excise skin cancer while reducing the wait for biopsy results.
Dongkyun Kang, PhD, works on the laser light portion of a new, portable skin cancer diagnostic technology he is developing with Clara Curiel-Lewandrowski, MD.
Clara Curiel Lewandrowski, MD, and Dongkyun Kang, PhD, prepare to do a side-by-side test of the confocal microscope and the portable unit to compare the image quality. Dr. Curiel is aligning the larger device, while Dr. Kang prepares to aim the handheld device at a nearby spot on Savannah Barber’s arm. Barber is a medical assistant at Banner – University Medical Center.
Drs. Curiel and Kang look at the image quality of the handheld skin cancer diagnostic microscope they are developing. The technology is meant to provide a less expensive, portable version of a machine that is presently cost-prohibitive for many medical facilities.