SMARTProbe, a needle integrated with a portable handheld impedance analyser for real-time breast disease detection

Ugwahy, Anulika Justina

SMARTProbe, a needle integrated with a portable handheld impedance analyser for real-time breast disease detection

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Date

2022-05

Authors

Ugwahy, Anulika Justina

Publisher

University College Cork

Abstract

Breast cancer is common, affecting 2 out of 10 women with a suspicious lesion. There is no real-time preoperative diagnosis for breast disease. The triple assessment for detection includes a self/clinical breast examination, a mammogram, and an ultrasound-guided biopsy with histological evaluations. Different technologies are being researched to enhance the diagnostic pathway. The addition of novel technology to existing diagnostic tools and processes might provide greater diagnostic accuracy and expedite the time to arrive at a definitive diagnosis. Bioimpedance is a fast, non-destructive technique that can be investigated for real- time detection of breast disease. Alterations in the electrochemical properties of the breast, which occur with metaplastic and neoplastic cellular proliferation, can be identified and monitored using bioimpedance. Impedance measurements can give quantitative information and a signature of the electrical properties of tissue. The current clinical pathway review identified that the biopsy procedure could be improved. The design and fabrication of sensors on a Core Needle Biopsy were explored to evaluate the electrical properties of breast tissue. Nanoscale imaging and composition analysis of sensor surfaces were used to investigate the fabricated sensors. Electroanalytical characterisations of the needle sensors were performed in solutions of known concentrations. Tissue-mimicking breast phantoms were developed and interrogated with the device developed. A prototype integrating the needle sensors and a 3D printed biopsy firing mechanism was achieved. The clinical investigation of the excised breast tissue using the developed sensors was conducted at the Cork University Hospital (CUH). The bioimpedance sensor evaluated the differences in the electrical properties of excised healthy and diseased breast tissue. The results were analysed, and a preliminary prediction model examined the discriminatory ability of the device. The bioimpedance results for excised tissue type were correlated with histological reports. Hence, this research contributes to the proof of concept in ex-vivo breast tissue that will guide the in-vivo clinical investigation. The future work required to demonstrate the technology in a real-space environment is also detailed. This biomedical prototype designed, fabricated, and characterised in this thesis is called the SMARTProbe. The SMARTProbe's novelty lies in being a hand-held biopsy system with a tissue discrimination function. Commercially available pre-and intra- operative technologies in breast disease management are not miniaturised like the SMARTProbe. The device can be easily adapted to the current clinical diagnostic pathway to provide more information on tissue type at the needle location during a biopsy procedure. It is envisaged that the device will enhance representative sampling, reducing the number of cores taken. The technology will improve the biopsy procedure for both the patient and the radiologist. The different processes used in the fabrication process are easily translated to large scale manufacturing as they are already used in the biomedical device industry.

Keywords

Bioimpedance , Sensor , Discrimination , Breast cancer , Clinical prediction model

Citation

Ugwahy, J. U. 2022. SMARTProbe, a needle integrated with a portable handheld impedance analyser for real-time breast disease detection. PhD Thesis, University College Cork.