UK team developing life-saving scanner

A new ultrasound scanner for the early detection of skin cancer is being developed by a team in the UK.

Phoenix Inspection Systems, the Warrington-based ultrasonic equipment specialist, is working with the University of Manchester on the £1.1 million project in collaboration with the medical technology company Longport. The project is part-funded by the Department of Trade & Industry-led Technology Programme and also involves printed circuit board manufacturer Newbury Electronics of Berkshire.

Longport is known worldwide for its high resolution imaging systems and it claims the new scanner could save thousands of lives each year through early diagnosis. Phoenix, better known for its work in developing industrial inspection systems, will work with the university on the development of new, more powerful ultrasonic sensors.

Chris Gregory, who is leading the Phoenix team, said: “Scanners of this type use an ultrasound beam to ‘see’ beneath the surface of the skin. However while in existing systems the beam is manipulated mechanically, in the new scanner the process will be electronically steered to allow a more thorough examination and faster imaging.”

Longport’s UK arm, based in Reading, sells £2 million worth of scanners each year. Paul Wilson, Managing Director of Longport International, said: “The new scanner will be the most powerful of its type on the market, offering early diagnosis and monitoring of cancers, pressure sores and other serious skin conditions. The system will also be affordable to specialists in developing countries and GPs working in the community.”

Skin cancers are the commonest form of cancer in the UK, with more than 73,000 cases reported in 2002. The incidence rate for melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, has grown faster over the last 25 years then any other major cancer type in the UK, according to figures from Cancer Research UK.