By Henry J. Fishman, M.D.
ConsumerAffairs.com
September 2, 2005
A small, light-weight device using electrical current may someday help detect early breast cancer. The device is called the Z Tech experimental breast cancer detection system.
The device consists of a small center ring, a sensor about an inch across surrounded by 7 spokes. The spokes generate a small amount of electricity which passes through the breast tissue to the sensor.
The device is placed on a breast and turned on. Electricity passed through the breast tissue to the sensor. A malignant tissue carries electricity more easily than health tissue, so the sensor can tell low resistance tumor from high resistance healthy tissue. Thus the device may be able to detect a tumor before it has a clear shape and before a mammogram can find it.
The new device will need thorough testing and will get it in the next 18 months at 16 U.S. sites. It may someday help doctors diagnose early tumors and combat the epidemic of breast cancer.
