Virtual biopsy cuts out need for diagnostic surgery

"It offers the possibility of a simple device that can be run over the surface of the skin or internal organ that can quickly, cheaply and accurately record changes in cellular structure that point to cancerous changes", he added.

Mr. Smith explained the bio-impedance technique sends tiny electrical currents into the tissue. "By running the currents through a surface it can identify the boundaries of a lesion", he stated. "If a cell's structure has changed, the impedance characteristics change and clinicians can use the changes to diagnose the type of lesion."

He noted that the technique picks up changes inside the cells, changes in cells' membranes and also changes in the space between cells. "By putting all this information together, it may be possible to diagnose types of cancer along with their boundaries."

"The beauty of this technique is that the patient doesn't need an anaesthetic, the data is immediate, and it has the potential to be as accurate as more time-consuming, expensive techniques", Mr. Smith stated.

Mr. Smith concluded that further development of the technique could very well see it make its way into General Practitioner offices or skin clinics.