AI Innovations Pave the Way for Skin Cancer Diagnosis in Remote Areas
AI tools developed for skin cancer diagnosis in remote areas show promise in improving healthcare access.
Key Points
- • Tess Watt develops AI tools for skin cancer diagnosis in remote areas.
- • The system uses Raspberry Pi devices to analyze skin lesions without internet access.
- • Accuracy of the tool is up to 85%, with plans for clinical tests with NHS Scotland.
- • Long-term goal includes rollout in remote Scotland and underserved areas globally.
Tess Watt, a Ph.D. candidate at Heriot-Watt University, is leading the development of artificial intelligence (AI) tools aimed at improving skin cancer diagnosis in underserved regions, particularly those lacking access to medical infrastructure. Her work addresses the pressing need for early detection in the face of rising general practitioner (GP) wait times, which can delay crucial diagnoses.
Watt's innovative system utilizes low-cost Raspberry Pi devices that can operate offline, allowing users to analyze images of skin lesions without being reliant on internet access. This approach is not only adaptable for rural and remote environments but has also shown to deliver diagnostic insights with an accuracy of up to 85%. Users capture images with a camera attached to the Raspberry Pi, which then compares these against a robust dataset of thousands of skin images.
Having demonstrated a working prototype, Watt is now pursuing ethical approvals with NHS Scotland for clinical testing, with pilot projects planned for rural Scotland and aspirations to expand globally to areas with insufficient dermatological care. Her work stems from a recognition of the limited AI application in dermatology compared to other medical fields, thereby striving to enhance proactive healthcare delivery in light of current demands placed on health services.
Dr. Christos Chrysoulas, Watt's academic supervisor, reinforced the significance of creating e-health devices that function independently, ensuring patient safety and continuity of care. This initiative represents a vital step towards addressing significant global health challenges and improving access to essential medical services for vulnerable populations.