Smartphone-based skin cancer diagnostic certified for use in UK

"An artificial intelligence-powered digital tool for diagnosing skin cancers developed by Skin Analytics has been cleared in the UK as a Class IIA medical device, setting up broader use of the technology in patient assessments.

DERM is being deployed in pilot studies across five NHS Trusts, for example to see if it can support GPs in referring patients to the urgent two week skin cancer referral laid out in NICE guidelines.

The tool has been used to assess more than 23,000 patients and discover almost 1,500 cases of cancer, whilst reducing the number if dermatology appointments needed by more than 4,700, said the company.

Class IIA certification means DERM can be formally placed on the market in the UK, and according to Skin Analytics becomes the first and only AI-based dermatology technology to gain this status.

DERM uses machine learning to algorithms to recognise the most common malignant, pre-malignant and benign skin lesions, including melanoma – which is the fifth most common cancer in the UK and the most dangerous form of the common skin cancers.

The digital device consists of a lens that can be attached to a smartphone, and an app that contains this software to assess a lesion, such as a mole that has started to change its look or behaviour.

London-based Skin Analytics said the certification is “the first step in enabling the company to unlock new pathways with NHS Trusts, aiming to further support the NHS with outpatient demand in dermatology.”..." Lire la suite