technology
Present technology
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Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer that is caused by damaged DNA from ultraviolet radiation.
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Clinical observation by a dermatologist, dermoscopy, and biopsies are current methods used to diagnose melanoma.
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Dermoscopy is a noninvasive method that analyzes the discoloration and microstructures of the skin. A dermatologist will look for patterns and abnormal coloration which suggest the presence of malignant cells.
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Biopsies remove the entire lesion on the skin that is under question of potential melanoma.
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Due to the invasive nature of these methods, there has been a shift towards the use of infrared imaging to detect melanoma.
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History
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Before motion sensors there was radar
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In the early 19th century, Sir William Herschel discovered infrared. Herschel showed how a spectrum has colors that had higher temperatures than red, which is the color he initially thought had the highest temperature
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This discovery was infrared. They would send messages by sending radio waves.
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With the development of radar technology, infrared technology also developed because of the desire for motion sensors to be used outside of the military
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The electromagnetic spectrum was later used to show different wavelengths which are measured in microns
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When Herschel revealed his discovery, he referred to this new section of the electromagnetic spectrum as the “thermo-metrical spectrum”
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The radiation itself he would often refer to as “dark heat” or “the invisible rays”
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Future technology
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Two part technology first of which is a cooling lotion that is painlessly applied to the entire body, necessary for MelaNOmore to work
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Used to lower the temperature of the patient's skin so that the infrared scanner can detect the small changes in temperatures on lesions from the normal, healthy skin
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Second part is the infrared thermography to detect changes in temperature on the patient’s skin cells
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Because cancer cells in general tend to have a higher temperature than normal human cells, thermography would need to become less costly and more precise in order for MELANOMORE to become a reality