E-finger: a tactile diagnostic device with microscale resolution
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Edinburgh
Department Name: Surgical Sciences
Abstract
Abstracts are not currently available in GtR for all funded research. This is normally because the abstract was not required at the time of proposal submission, but may be because it included sensitive information such as personal details.
Publications
Yang T
(2017)
Dynamic instrumented palpation (DIP)-a new method for soft tissue quality assessment; application to engineered mechanical phantom materials
in Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express
Palacio-Torralba J
(2016)
Patient specific modeling of palpation-based prostate cancer diagnosis: effects of pelvic cavity anatomy and intrabladder pressure.
in International journal for numerical methods in biomedical engineering
Palacio-Torralba J
(2018)
A novel method for rapid and quantitative mechanical assessment of soft tissue for diagnostic purposes: A computational study.
in International journal for numerical methods in biomedical engineering
Palacio-Torralba J
(2015)
Quantitative diagnostics of soft tissue through viscoelastic characterization using time-based instrumented palpation.
in Journal of the mechanical behavior of biomedical materials
Palacio-Torralba J
(2020)
A novel palpation-based method for tumor nodule quantification in soft tissue-computational framework and experimental validation.
in Medical & biological engineering & computing
Hammer SJ
(2017)
Quantitative mechanical assessment of the whole prostate gland ex vivo using dynamic instrumented palpation.
in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. Part H, Journal of engineering in medicine
Scanlan P
(2015)
Development of a novel actuator for the dynamic palpation of soft tissue for use in the assessment of prostate tissue quality
in Sensors and Actuators A: Physical
| Description | 1. We have developed a family of mechanical probes capable of assessing the distribution of cancer in the prostate 2. We have tested theses probes in patients under anesthesia 3. We have found that there is a relationship between conventional clinical measures of prostate cancer and the mechanical measurements we make 4. We have established the way to design these probes at a range of different scales for different cancer applications 5. We have complied a set of measurements of the mechanical response of prostates in normal and diseased condition which is world-leading in terms of its scope. |
| Exploitation Route | To better assess the progress of prostate cancer in a way that can be applied with regularity throughout the process of diagnosis and treatment. To use dynamic instrumented palpation more generally to assess human tissue, particularly for cancer diagnosis. |
| Sectors | Healthcare |
| Description | We are in the process of commercialising an early emobodiment of the palpation probe for digital rectal examination (DRE), which we call iDRE (instrumented Digital Rectal Examination). The PIs on this grant (Reuben) and the related grant (EP/I020101, McNeill) are in the process of setting up a spin out company that will be called IntelliaPalp Dx Ltd. We are in advanced stages of securing a Collaborative Research Grant from CENSIS and have entered in the ScottishEDGE competition. The grant from from prostate cancer charities (the Urology Fund and John Black Trust) that funded a pre-clinical study on over 450 urology patients at various stages in the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer has provided data that we believe justifies the commercialisation of the technology through IntelliPalp Dx. We have developed a team to support the commercialisation through IntelliPalp Dx and have recently completed the CAP3 approval process of Heriot Watt University. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2016 |
| Sector | Healthcare |
| Impact Types | Societal,Economic |
| Description | Horizon 2020 SME Instrument 2014 |
| Amount | € 71,429 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 718244 |
| Organisation | European Commission |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | European Union (EU) |
| Start | 04/2016 |
| End | 10/2016 |
| Description | MRC Confidence in Concept |
| Amount | £69,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 11/2016 |
| End | 11/2017 |
| Company Name | Palpation Diagnostics Ltd |
| Description | Company was set up specifically to exploit and early outcome from EPSRC Grants EP/I019472 and EP/I020101, viz and instrumented Digital Rectal Examination (iDRE) device. In its early stages, the company is concerned to consolidate its IP associated with the device, prior to a wider share issue. |
| Year Established | 2015 |
| Impact | Main impact will be in the clinical exploitation of dynamic instrumented palpation as a diagnostic instrument for prostate cancer. |
| Description | Launch of surgical robot at Western General Hospital |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | Launch of new surgical robot at Western General Hospital, organized by Prostate Scotland as the result of it Blue Horizon Appeal. Attended by senior NHS managers, politicians, practitioners and patients. Associated press article in the Times (Scotland) Technology Supplement authored by McNeill and Reuben (21 Nov 2016) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
| URL | http://www.prostatescotland.org.uk/robot-appeal |